1. Measure the functional morphology of 50 prevalent species (including quota species) in the SEF shelf trawl fishery, including internal and external features.

2. Analyse these morphological features to determine the structure of species assemblages, habitat use, and potential biological interactions.

3. Compare the information on community structure, habitat use and biological interactions derived in this study against independent information on habitat use, water column distribution and diet, to determine which morphological features provide useful information on the fishes ecological role.

4. Ascertain the potential of functional morphology to provide rapidly and efficiently the information on species interactions, habitat use, and susceptibility to fishing gears, that is essential to fishery management using ESD principles.