RDD Databases

This database was established to oversee documents issued in support of fishery research activities including experimental fishing permits (EFP), letters of acknowledgement (LOA), temporary possession permits (TPP), exempted educational activity authorizations (EEAA), and scientific research permits (SRP) . Specifically, the primary objectives are:

1. Oversee research document applications;

2. Track vessels authorized to operate under these documents; and

3. Monitor the activity and catch from vessels operating under these documents.

General - General research permit information such as the type of permit, funding source, reviewers, dates of application, issuance, and extension, and a project brief project description.

Contacts - Contact information for project collaborators and research institutions.

Vessels - Relevant vessel information such as hull and permit number, vessel name, and the status of the a vessel permit (active, inactive, sanctioned).

Time/Area - Months and statistical areas where the research is being conducted.

Exemptions - The regulation(s) that a vessel and/or project are exempt from.

Consultations - The required level of consultations required by Federal mandates and associated dates of their initiation and completion.

Catch/Landings - Data regarding catch and days-at-sea usage (effort measurement) in relation to project caps.

Files - The RDD also contain various attached files associated with a project such as a copy of the research permit itself, application materials, and documents required to comply with Federal mandates.

Sustainable Fisheries Division

55 Great Republic Drive

Access to data is governed by 50CFR600 - Confidentiality of Information. Access by state fishery management agency staff and Fisheries Management Council staff may be allowed through Memorandum of Understanding that are signed by the Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator and Directors of the State Agency or Councils that describe the need and uses of the data and list the individuals who will have access to the data. Contractors may be granted access provided they are working under contract to NOAA or a cooperating partner (state, Council, Commission) on a specific project under the oversight of a partner. Access to data is governed by 50CFR600 - Confidentiality of Information. Access by state fishery management agency staff and Fisheries Management Council staff may be allowed through Memorandum of Understanding that are signed by the Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator and Directors of the State Agency or Councils that describe the need and uses of the data and list the individuals who will have access to the data. Contractors may be granted access provided they are working under contract to NOAA or a cooperating partner (state, Council, Commission) on a specific project under the oversight of a partner.

Access is restricted to personnel authorized in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100. A signed non-disclosure agreement must be on file for all authorized personnel. The IRM help desk or APSD Data Request staff are the POC for non-disclosure forms.

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GARFO has established an "industry data investigation" (IDI) team whose responsibility is to investigate and correct data errors on GARFO's critical datasets including vessel trip reports, dealer reports, and various associated fishing activity reports, including VMS reports. QC on these datasets is performed regularly since data is securely displayed on various web portals to its owners. JIRA is the tool used for tracking quality control.

Access to this data is tightly controlled. Most access is read-only. Write access is given only after data owners have authorized (accompanied by a signed NDA), and data is usually edited via an access controlled application. Data is QAQC'd on a regular basis by authorized personnel, and backed up both to disk and tape on a daily basis.

This data is populated through several data streams. Users enter some data through a web application. Supporting permit data comes from the region's vessel permit system. Supporting trip data comes from the region's vessel trip reporting system. Information on these supporting systems can be found elsewhere in GARFO's Inport profile.