The Est Constanta 1980 dataset contains zooplankton data collected monthly from January 1980 to december 1980 allong a 5 station transect in front of the city Constanta (44°10'N, 28°41.5'E – EC1; 44°10'N, 28°47'E – EC2; 44°10'N, 28°54'E – EC3; 44°10'N, 29°08'E – EC4; 44°10'N, 29°22'E – EC5). Zooplankton sampling was undertaken at 5 stations where samples were collected using a Juday closing net in the 0-10, 10-25, 25-50m layer (depending also on the water masses). The dataset includes samples analysed for mesozooplankton species composition and abundance.Sampling volume was estimated by multiplying the mouth area with the wire length. Taxon-specific mesozooplankton abundance was count under microscope. Total abundance is the sum of the counted individuals. Total biomass Fodder, Rotifera , Ctenophora and Noctiluca was estimated using a tabel with wet weight for each species an stage.