The dataset includes taxon counts of the observed background community at the stations prior to the baited lander deployments as well as area calculations per image. Framegrab images from the OFOS videos were extracted in VLC media player (3.0.11 Vetinari) using the snapshot-tool. Framegrabs were taken every 1.5 minute and additionally as close to the seafloor as possible to have the highest possible resolution. Because of variable image quality, the images were classified into good, medium, and poor quality. In each collected image, organisms were identified to the highest possible taxonomic unit and counted with the Multi-Point tool in ImageJ (ImageJ 1.53g). The annotated area in each image was calculated by setting the scale in ImageJ and then calculating the area with the measure-tool. The total area surveyed was calculated by the sum of the analysed images (total = 8-53 m2 per study region).