Pacific Albacore Troll and Pole-and-line Fisheries

The North Pacific and South Pacific Albacore Troll and Pole-and-line Fisheries project contains landings, logbooks, and size composition data from U.S.A. troll and pole-and-line vessels fishing in the North and South Pacific, from 1952 and 1987, respectively, to the present.

These data are collected for use in monitoring the fisheries, contribute to stock assessments on north Pacific albacore, and to fulfill reporting obligations of Pacific RFMOs.

The North Pacific albacore fishery is a long-term important west coast fishery that operates during the summer months from Southern California to Canadian waters. The South Pacific albacore fishery began in 1987 after exploratory fishing determined that that fishery could become viable. Logbook data were submitted voluntarily until the implementation of the HMS FMP in 2005 when submission became mandatory. Size data are collected through a port sampling program managed by SWFSC using state samplers through a contract with Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission. Landings data are obtained from the PacFIN system and from cannery reports from American Samoa and from agency reports from foreign fisheries agencies in countries where the vessels may unload.

Attributes define areas, dates, catches, fishing effort, bycatch, sizes of fish, species

Temporal and Spatial extents of USA Pacific albacore troll and pole-and-line fisheries

none

Hard copy data are locked in secured area. Data are stored in files on government computers with all of the proper government security measures in place including firewalls, encryption, account number and password protection.

Confidential data limited to users with a need to know (managing, accessing, monitoring or conducting research on the fishery or on fish stocks impacted by the fishery)

Contact point of contact. Supply official request for data and purpose of that request.

Logbook and landings data are confidential and can only be presented in summarized form to the public. However researchers with appropriate clearance can access the more detailed data. Size data are not confidential. Those with access to confidential data need a signed non-disclosure agreement statement to access the detailed data. There are no constraints on access to summarized data.

All use of the data sets should be cleared with NMFS/SWFSC.

The data set was originally in DBASE/FOXPRO, converted to Access then finally placed into an Oracle HMS data system.

All vessels are required to submit logbook and landing information. Coverage rates vary by year but are currently greater than 75%. Length Composition data sampling coverage has been evaluated to determine adequacy of accurately representing the size distribution of fish targeted by this fishery.

Landings data are submitted by buyers and accuracy is very accurate. Logbook data are completed by vessel captains and can be suspect.

length composition coverage rates are appropriate for determining yearly distributions by fishery

Data are edited by SWFSC staff

MSA

Data are stored on agency servers following standard agency security policies

Completed logbook forms are submitted to SWFSC by vessel operators. The data are edited, entered by SWFSC staff and a private data entry company. The data are managed by SWFSC staff. Size samples are collected by port samplers, observers, and crew, submitted to SWFSC. The data are edited, entered and managed by SWFSC staff. Landings data are collected from industry, foreign fisheries agencies, state agencies and the PacFIN system, integrated with other data in an Oracle database