Distribution of macrobenthic communities of the coastal marine ecosystem of Chrysi island (Crete, Greece, Spring 2023)

Data were gathered from sediment samples taken during a baseline survey conducted between April 23rd and May 1st, 2023. A grid of eleven sampling stations was established around the two islands, covering water depths of roughly 10 to 30 meters, with samples collected using a Smith–McIntyre grab (0.1 m²).

The sediments were predominantly coarse-to-medium and fine-to-very-fine sand, a characteristic linked to the intense hydrodynamic activity found on both the northern and southern sides of the islands. The resulting dataset offers an evaluation of soft-bottom macrobenthic community structure in the region, and forms part of a broader environmental baseline assessment conducted around Chryssi and Mikronisi islands under the project "Implementation of the Action Plan Measures for Chryssi Island," funded by the Region of Crete / Sub-Regional Unit of Lasithi.