Shrimp Survey Data

The Northern Shrimp Survey was initiated in 1983 by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) and monitors the relative abundance (number of shrimp), biomass (weight of shrimp), and composition of the northern shrimp stock throughout the Gulf of Maine. The data give an understanding of year class strength and sex stage and maturity of shrimp in the population. The survey focuses its efforts in offshore waters (in depths greater than 50 meters) and is timed to sample both males and females during the summer when they are expected to be offshore. The data it collects forms the basis of the annual northern shrimp assessment, which in turn, is used by fishery managers from Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts to set each year’s fishing regulations.

The northern shrimp survey is designed to provide data required for annual stock assessments.

Available to qualified researchers.

1. Formal request in writing usually to the data owner/contact or Center Director.

2. Requester is contacted by data owner to review and verify the request content and details for data delivery options.

3. If data is confidential then owner will determine is the data may be released to the requester.

4. If data can be released, the data is downloaded and packaged for delivery electronically; or the requester may be directed to where the data is available online.

If data is stored on an internal NEFSC network, the requester may not have direct access to query the data unless they are also authorized for network access.

User must read and fully comprehend the metadata prior to use. Applications or inferences derived from the data should be carefully considered for accuracy. Acknowledgement of NOAA/NMFS/NEFSC, as the source from which these data were obtained in any publications and/or other representations of these, data is suggested.

RDBMS: Oracle

The data are subject to numerous audits.

SCS and FSCS data collection software programs employ real-time validation and must meet database integrity constraints. Data are then subject to post-audits.

Archival of source data preserving unaltered collected data, Scheduled backups, Remote storage backups, Password protection.

Vessel sensor data are collected electronically using SCS. Station, catch and biological data were collected manually using paper logs until 2004. At the completion of each cruise leg, the logs were keypunched and data audited extensively prior to being released.

Starting in 2004, FSCS 1.0 was implemented to electronically capture station, catch and biological data. The electronic data collection system was upgraded to FSCS 2.0 in 2012. Data are subject to extensive audits prior to being released.