This dataset was collected to calculate optimal seasonal opening dates for the commercial fishery and to provide other management advice, by undertaking size sampling of pre-season and in-season banana prawns (F. merguiensis and F. indicus). In-season sampling of commercial catch on commercial trawlers (1983 - 1985) was supplemented during the season by data obtained from quality control staff at KFV Fisheries Pty Ltd. Sampling was organized for pre- and in-season searching and sampling voyages and prawns were sampled and measured from as many trawlers as possible.

This data was collected to obtain base information for prawn management advice. Data were collated by 6 nm grid squares species, sex and size distribution (carapace length) of prawns in the commercial catch 1988 - 1990 inclusive. Also collated were turtle distribution in catches in 1989. All samples were taken and processed by CSIRO trained commercial trawl boat crews and presumably all samples were taken from areas of high abundance at that time. The fishing times over this period were 15 April to 22 June and about 1 August to 30 November.

During October to December 1997, estuarine habitats in the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf (JBG) were beam trawled to determine the distribution of juvenile red-legged banana prawns, Penaeus indicus (H. Milne Edwards, 1837) and white banana prawns, Penaeus merguiensis (de Mann, 1888). In total 229 beam-trawls at 185 sites were performed, mostly over a 100 m path (3 min duration) between Pearce Point (north of the Victoria River) and just west of the King George River (including Cambridge Gulf). A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver was used to verify site location. During October to December 1998, three of the rivers that were sampled in 1997 were intensively re-sampled to confirm the gulf-wide distribution of P. indicus and P. merguiensis and to investigate the microhabitat use of P. indicus. Sample sites were chosen from previously-sampled and new sites in Forsyth Creek (eastern Joseph Bonaparte Gulf), the Lyne River (Cambridge Gulf), and the Berkeley River (western Joseph Bonaparte Gulf). A total of 249 trawls were done at 21 sites, mostly over 100 m. Salinity, temperature, secchi, tide and sediment samples were also collected.

This dataset was collected mainly to provide banana prawn length-frequency data by undertaking size sampling of commercial catches of banana prawns (P merguiensis). The aim was to calculate optimal seasonal opening dates for the commercial fishery and to provide other management advice. Length-frequency data for other prawn species was also provided.