The dataset comprises data on the substrate type, temperature, salinity and benthos from 567 samples colected in Romanian Black Sea Shelf, in the period 16.04.1954 - 14.02.1968. The sediment samples were taken with a Van-Veen grab, the sampling size - 0.1 m2. The sediment was preserved in buffered formalin 4% , then sieved through a 2 mm, 0.25 mm and 0.10 mm mesh sieve and subsequently stored in 70% ethanol. The database comprises taxonomic and quantitative data (individuals count, density and biomass per square meter) for 97 macrobenthic species and 5 supraspecific groups.