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Summary

Description

The Fisheries Information Network (FIN), comprised of the Commercial Fisheries Information Network (ComFIN) and the Southeast Recreational Fisheries Information Network [RecFIN(SE)] is a state-federal cooperative program to collect, manage, and disseminate statistical data and information on the marine and estuarine commercial and recreational fisheries of the Southeast Region.

The FIN Committee consists of the signatories to the MOU or their designees, and is responsible for planning, managing, and evaluating the program. Agencies represented by signatories to the MOU are the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Florida, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Texas Parks & Wild Life Department , Puerto Rico Department of Environmental & National Resources, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Mexico Fishery Management Council, and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Contact Information

Metadata Contact
Ralf Riedel
ralf.riedel@usm.edu
228-818-8804

Metadata Contact
Donna B Bellais
dbellais@gsmfc.org
(228) 875-5912

Extents

Geographic Area 1

Southeast Regions the (Region) includes Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Item Identification

Title: Gulf State Marine Fisheries Commission
Short Name: GSMFC Programs
Status: In Work
Abstract:

The Fisheries Information Network (FIN), comprised of the Commercial Fisheries Information Network (ComFIN) and the Southeast Recreational Fisheries Information Network [RecFIN(SE)] is a state-federal cooperative program to collect, manage, and disseminate statistical data and information on the marine and estuarine commercial and recreational fisheries of the Southeast Region.

The FIN Committee consists of the signatories to the MOU or their designees, and is responsible for planning, managing, and evaluating the program. Agencies represented by signatories to the MOU are the National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Florida, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, Texas Parks & Wild Life Department , Puerto Rico Department of Environmental & National Resources, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Mexico Fishery Management Council, and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission.

Purpose:

The FIN is designed to provide sound scientific information on catch, effort, and participation that managers need to prudently conserve and manage marine commercial fisheries resources in the Region. Under this program, there are two distinct components: the Commercial Fisheries Information Network (ComFIN) and the Recreational Fisheries Information Network in the Southeast Region [RecFIN(SE)].

Notes:

GSMFC contracts with BlueFIN Data, LLC to implement and maintain electronic trip ticket reporting for Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. Ultimately, all states will have operating trip tickets program and all commercial landings will be captured via these systems.

Supplemental Information:

The FIN is comprised of coordinated data collection activities, an integrated data management and retrieval system, and procedures for information dissemination.

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None anadromous
None commercial
None Cooperative program
None estuarine
None recreational
None shelfish
None State Funded

Temporal Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Program

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Alabama
None Caribbean
None Fertile Crescent
None Florida
None Gulf of Mexico
None Louisiana
None Mississippi
None Puerto Rico
None Texas
None U.S. Virgin Islands.

Stratum Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Oceanic

Physical Location

Organization: Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
City: Ocean Springs
State/Province: MS
Country: USA
Location Description:

P. O. Box 726

Ocean Springs, MS 39566-0726

Phone 228-875-5912 , Fax 228-875-6604

Project Information

Project Type: Program
Is Mandated?: Yes
Mandated By: Memorandum of Understandng
Collection Type: Landings
Collection Authority: Other
Collection Method: Electronic and Paper

Support Roles

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 569035
Date Effective From: 2011
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Riedel, Ralf
Email Address: ralf.riedel@usm.edu
Phone: 228-818-8804

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 6332
Date Effective From: 2006-08-01
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Bellais, Donna B
Address: 2404 Government St
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
USA
Email Address: dbellais@gsmfc.org
Phone: (228) 875-5912
Fax: (228) 875-6604
Business Hours: M-F 8:00am - 5:00pm CST

Extents

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 6222
Description

Southeast Regions the (Region) includes Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Access Information

Security Class: Confidential
Security Classification System:

The preferred alternative and long-term goal of the FIN for disclosure of or access to confidential fishery statistics is that an authorized user is any person, that is employed by or affiliated with (i.e., Regional Fishery Management Council members, and contractors/consultants employed by FIN partners) a FIN partner and has been designated by the respective partner to require confidential data as a means to fulfill their job and their job is related to fisheries management and conservation. States that are currently operating under this scenario will continue to do so without having to make changes to present laws or memoranda of understanding. Confidentiality policies and protocols adopted by the FIN must be consistent with state and federal statutes.

Data Access Policy:

The "Fisheries Rule Of Three (3)" is defined as: Any fisheries data that would identify a single fisheries *entity. As an example; A report containing the total landings for purple striped jellyfish (051661) for the year of 2005. If less then three dealers purchased that Jelly fish for that year then it is a violation of the rule of three to show any totals of landings. OR; If less then three fishermen catch and land that jellyfish, then it is a violation of the rule of three to show any totals of landings.

Data Access Constraints:

A Statement of Non-disclosure and confidential user form are required to be on file prior to access of information for all persons requesting or wanting to use any data or information housed and maintained by the FIN DMS.

Data Use Constraints:

Only those data or information that could identify a person or business are considered confidential. Certain data elements, such as names, social security numbers, boat registration numbers, among others, are inherently confidential, since they identify individuals or businesses. Other data elements, such as number of trips or landings, may be confidential and must be considered on a case-by- case basis. Confidential information cannot be disclosed to the public. Such information can only be released to the public in aggregate form, such that the identity of the submitters cannot be determined either from the present release of the data or in combination with other releases. Although a *commonly used criterion for release of data is when three or more submitter have reported a species, other criteria may be necessary to ensure data confidentiality. Care should be taken in court cases to prevent the data from becoming public. All authorized users must consent to comply with state and federal non-disclosure policies and written statements. Confidential data can be disclosed to or accessed by authorized user.

The states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, GSMFC and the NMFS have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that allows the signatories to share confidential data. A request from any agency, organization, or individual not signatory to the MOA must be referred back to the state of data origin. It was also agreed that certain data in aggregate form could be disseminated upon request, because those data would not identify any individual.

Each agency will designate a position that is identified as the contact for that agency for data transfers or questions regarding sharing of data. A common list of certified confidential agents will be compiled , distributed to all appropriate state and federal personnel, and updated on a regular basis to assure that new personnel are added and those who quit or are terminated are deleted.

The following benchmarks need to be achieved once the FIN is fully on-line (partners start collection and compiling trip level data), and should be developed as quickly as possible.

Procedures need to be set whereby it is ensured that the data are accessed by authorized users only.

Ensure appropriate penalties are developed and fully enforced on individuals and/or agencies whom disclose confidential data to non-authorized persons.

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 6200
URL: http://www.gsmfc.org
Description:

Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission (GSMFC)

Technical Environment

Description:

Oracle Discoverer Plus

Oracle 10g

Acronyms

ComFIN Commercial Fisheries Informatinal Network
FIN Fisheries Information Network
GSMFC Gulf State Marine Fisheries Commission
RecFIN(SE) Southeast Recreational Fisheries Informational Network

Glossary Terms and Definitions

FINd

CC ID: 6134
Description:

FIN Discoverer data system

Dataset

CC ID: 6137
Description:

A database table or tables.

Business Area

CC ID: 6138
Description:

A display case for the data that can be viewed with Discoverer.

Access Sites

CC ID: 45149
Description:

Areas where fishermen fish from shore, or board or leave a boat to go fishing.

Bank

CC ID: 45150
Description:

A stretch of rising land at the edge of a body of water not washed by high water, which could be rocks or an overhanging cliff.

Beach

CC ID: 45151
Description:

A level stretch of pebbles, bed rock shore, or sand beside a body of water, often washed by high water.

Breachway

CC ID: 45152
Description:

Shore along a connecting channel

Breakwater

CC ID: 45153
Description:

An offshore structure used to protect a harbor or beach from the forces of waves.

Bridge

CC ID: 45154
Description:

A structure carrying a pathway or roadway over a body of water.

Bulkhead, Seawall

CC ID: 45155
Description:

A retaining wall along a waterfront.

Bycatch

CC ID: 45156
Description:

The discarded catch of any living marine resource plus catch not otherwise accounted for as landed

Catch

CC ID: 45157
Description:

The total number or weight (or other measure) of marine resources (fish, invertebrates, others) captured, which are retained, released or discarded.

Discarded or Released

CC ID: 45158
Description:

The portion of the catch that is not retained, (i.e. discarded or released at sea dead or alive) and includes incidental take of protected species.

Immediate Use Catch

CC ID: 45159
Description:

The portion of the retained catch used for food or bait before the end of the trip.

Landed Catch

CC ID: 45160
Description:

The total number or weight (or other measure) of all marine resources (fish, invertebrates, others) captured, brought to shore and retained at the end of a trip. This includes catch that is discarded or not sold after being landed. This type of catch is indicated by disposition codes.

Retained Catch

CC ID: 45161
Description:

The number or weight of marine resources caught and kept for immediate use (bait, food) or for landing.

Causeway

CC ID: 45162
Description:

An elevated or raised way across wet ground or water.

Charterboat

CC ID: 45163
Description:

Trip Definition - Any trip of a vessel-for hire engaged in recreational fishing (VHERF) that is hired on a per trip basis. For survey purposes, and possible alternative definitions, information should be gathered on: a) number of anglers (refers to all marine recreational resource users); b) size of boat; and c) where fishing occurred.

Boat Definition - A charterboat is any vessel-for hire engaged in recreational fishing (VHERF) that typically is hired on a per trip basis

Commercial and Recreational Fishermen

CC ID: 45164
Description:

For statistical purposes only, anyone who sells or barters any portion of the catch from a trip is a commercial fisherman for that trip, and any marine resources that are sold or bartered are considered a commercial product. All other fishermen and catches are considered recreational.

Commercial Dealer

CC ID: 45165
Description:

A seafood dealer is defined as any person or entity other than the final consumer who purchases, ships, consigns, transfers, transports, barters, accepts (maintains) or packs any marine fishery products received from marine resource harvesters or marine aquaculturists. Any marine fishery products landed in any state must be reported by a dealer or a marine resource harvester acting as dealer in that state. Any marine resource harvester or aquaculturist who sells, consigns, transfers, or barters marine fishery products to anyone other than a dealer would himself be acting as a dealer and would therefore be responsible for reporting as a dealer. This definition is provided for purposes of statistical gathering only.

Confidential Information

CC ID: 45166
Description:

Information identifiable with any person or entity and prohibited by law from being disclosed to the public. It is data used as a basis for reasoning, discussion or calculation that a person may submit, either voluntarily or as required by Federal or State statute.

Docks

CC ID: 45167
Description:

Structure built out over water and supported by pillars/anchors with long-term docking facilities for boats.

Entanglements

CC ID: 45168
Description:

A condition in which any part of a protected species is tangled, wrapped and snared, hooked, or otherwise attached to fishing gear.

Fisheries-Dependent

CC ID: 45169
Description:

Information collected directly from the commercial, for-hire, and recreational fisheries.

Fisheries-Independent

CC ID: 45170
Description:

Information gathered independent of the fisheries through direct or indirect sampling of the stocks.

Fishing Guide

CC ID: 45171
Description:

A person hired by a recreational fisherman to aid in fishing.

Fishing Trip

CC ID: 45172
Description:

A period of time over which fishing occurs. The time spent fishing includes configuring, deploying, and retrieving gear, clearing animals from the gear, and storing, releasing or discarding catch. When watercraft are used, a fishing trip also includes the time spent traveling to and from fishing areas or locales and ends when the vessel offloads product at sea or returns to the shore. When fishing from shore or man-made structures, a fishing trip may include travel between different fishing sites within a 24-hour period.

Commercial Trip

CC ID: 45173
Description:

Any trip where the retained catch is or would be sold or bartered. This includes trips with effort but no catch.

For-Hire Trip

CC ID: 45174
Description:

Any shore or vessel trip whose participants are engaged in a marine resources recreational activity that is contracted for a fee.

Recreational Trip

CC ID: 45175
Description:

Any trip for the purpose of recreation from which none of the catch is sold or bartered. This includes trips with effort but no catch.

Split Trip

CC ID: 45176
Description:

A split trip is any angler trip in which a portion of the landings are sold commercially and a portion of the landings are retained for personal use.

Recreational Trip

CC ID: 45177
Description:

Any trip for the purpose of recreation from which none of the catch is sold or bartered. This includes trips with effort but no catch.

Split Trip

CC ID: 45178
Description:

A split trip is any angler trip in which a portion of the landings are sold commercially and a portion of the landings are retained for personal use.

Recreational Trip Duration

CC ID: 45179
Description:

A day of fishing measured in hours fished for the shore mode and dock to dock duration for the private/rental boat mode.

For-Hire Trip Duration

CC ID: 45180
Description:

Dock to dock duration measured in hours

Gear

CC ID: 45181
Description:

Anything used to catch marine resources

Gear Configuration

CC ID: 45182
Description:

Materials, construction, measure (i.e., mesh size, length of gear), and deployment of gear.

Guideboat

CC ID: 45183
Description:

A boat carrying a fishing guide and recreational fishermen engaged in fishing. A guideboat is considered a subset of charterboats for survey purposes

Guided Beach Trip

CC ID: 45184
Description:

Any shore-based trip where a guide is hired or provided

Guided Fishing Trip

CC ID: 45185
Description:

A fishing trip on which a fishing guide is hired to provide services directly related to fishing activities.

Headboat

CC ID: 45186
Description:

Trip Def. - Any trip of a vessel-for-hire engaged in recreational fishing (VHERF) that is hired on a per person basis. For survey purposes, and possible alternative definitions, information should be gathered on: a) number of anglers (refers to all marine recreational resource users); b) size of boat; and c) where fishing occurred.

Boat Def. - A headboat is any vessel-for-hire engaged in recreational fishing (VHERF) that typically is hired on a per person basis.

Intercept Survey

CC ID: 45187
Description:

On-site interviews which gather data from fishermen during or upon completion of their fishing trip at access sites.

Intercept Survey

CC ID: 45188
Description:

On-site interviews which gather data from fishermen during or upon completion of their fishing trip at access sites.

ITIS

CC ID: 45189
Description:

Integrated Taxonomic Information System. A taxonomic database for terrestrial and aquatic plants and animals. The product of a partnership of federal agencies collaborating with systemists in the federal, state and private sectors to provide scientifically credible taxonomic information.

Jetties

CC ID: 45190
Description:

A kind of wall, usually made of rocks, built into the water to restrain currents or protect a harbor

Metadata

CC ID: 45191
Description:

Metadata are corollary or descriptive information, both numeric and non-numeric, which may qualify or explain primary data.

Mode of Fishing

CC ID: 45192
Description:

The method by which a recreational fishing trip is taken, e.g. private/rental boat, shore, or for-hire.

Other Fishing Modes

CC ID: 45196
Description:

Any other non-boat fishing

Multi-Trip Fisheries

CC ID: 45193
Description:

Multiple trip fisheries are characterized by a large number of relatively short duration trips employing the same type of gear, (e.g. lobster pots), and resulting in catch of the same species (e.g. lobster), or relatively few species.

Non-Consumptive Use

CC ID: 45194
Description:

Any activity related to marine resources where no take of marine resources is attempted. Examples include photographing wildlife in natural or managed areas, SCUBA diving to view jewfish, whale watching, etc.

Observer

CC ID: 45195
Description:

A trained agent (employee, contractor, grantee, etc.) of any FIN partner acting as an unbiased data collector observing fishing operations on fishing vessels at sea.

Piers

CC ID: 45197
Description:

Structure built out over water and supported by pillars without long-term docking facilities for boats.

Port Agent/Sampler

CC ID: 45198
Description:

A trained agent (employee, contractor, grantee, etc.) of any FIN partner acting as an unbiased data collector, collecting data afer the completion of a fishing trip.

Post-Stratification

CC ID: 45199
Description:

Summarization of data into strata different from strata design used during data collection.

Price

CC ID: 45200
Description:

The dollar amount per landed unit (e.g. pounds, bushels) of a given species (or species landing condition and market category).

Private Access Sites

CC ID: 45201
Description:

Privately owned riparian land with dock/shoreline, waterfront residential developments, or marinas inaccessible to intercept sampling

Private Boat

CC ID: 45202
Description:

Trip Definition - Any boat trip for which no fee is paid for use of the boat.

Boat Definition - Any boat for which no fee is paid for use of the boat.

Protected Species

CC ID: 45203
Description:

Any organism listed under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act, or the Migratory Bird Treaty or any state protected species legislation. The term protected species can include protected finfish species (e.g., Atlantic salmon, shortnose sturgeon), invertebrates (e.g., Queen conch), sea birds, and plants (e.g., sea oats).

Protected Species Interactions

CC ID: 45204
Description:

Any interaction with a fishery which is incidental to such activity and results in the harassment, harm, or death of the species.

Rental Boat

CC ID: 45205
Description:

Trip Definition - A trip on a boat that is rented or leased. No captain or crew is hired.

Boat Definition - A boat that is rented or leased. No captain or crew is hired.

Strandings

CC ID: 45206
Description:

A marine mammal or sea turtle where: 1) the specimen is dead and/or moribund on the beach or shore or in a coastal waterway, or the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters, or 2) the specimen is alive and is on the beach or shore and is unable to return to the water under its own power, or 3) the specimen is in the EEZ or a coastal waterway where the water is so shallow and/or inhospitable that the specimen is unable to return to its natural habitat under its own power.

Stratification

CC ID: 45207
Description:

The process of dividing a population into two or more nonoverlapping comprehensive subpopulations, called strata, for the purpose of conducting independent surveys of these subpopulations.

Unique Identifier for Recreational Fisheries

CC ID: 45210
Description:

The unique identifier for recreational trip data is the date of return, the sampler number, the record number, and the individual.

Stratum

CC ID: 45208
Description:

An identifiable sub-population of a population that is being sampled.

Unique Identifier for Commercial Fisheries

CC ID: 45209
Description:

The unique identifier for commercial fisheries trip data is the trip start, the vessel identifier, and trip number when a vessel is involved; the trip start, the individual identifier, and the tip number when a vessel is not involved. Reporting of the unique identifier is required of both commercial fishermen and dealer on all submitted reports.

Value

CC ID: 45211
Description:

The total landed dollar amount of a given species (or species landing condition and market category). Example: 100 lbs of lobster at a PRICE of $3.50 per pound will have a VALUE of $350.

Vessel Directory Frame

CC ID: 45212
Description:

A list of known vessels operating in a particular fishery which can be used to sample that fishery.

Waterbodies

CC ID: 45213
Description:

Bodies of waters used for defining areas fished and identified by standard codes (See Table A.10).

Inland

CC ID: 45214
Description:

Waterbodies less than zero miles from the shoreline - waterbodies found inside the boundaries for territorial waters.

Territorial waters

CC ID: 45215
Description:

Inshore - 0-3 miles on Atlantic, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and U.S. Virgin Islands coast, 0-9 nautical miles on Florida and Texas Gulf, and Puerto Rico coast from the shoreline.

EEZ

CC ID: 45216
Description:

Exclusive Economic Zone - Offshore waters 3-200 miles on Atlantic, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and U.S. Virgin Islands coast, 9-200 miles on Florida and Texas Gulf, and Puerto Rico coast from the shoreline.

International

CC ID: 45217
Description:

Offshore waters greater than 200 miles from the shore line

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 2342
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:2342
Metadata Record Created By: Montina Williams
Metadata Record Created: 2006-07-18 09:10+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2022-08-09 17:10+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2017-03-13
Owner Org: GSMFC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2017-03-13
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2018-03-13