Apex Predators Program Age and Growth Data

Apex Predators Program staff have collected vertebral centra from sportfishing tournaments, cruises, commercial fishermen and strandings in the Northeast US since the 1960's. This offers a unique opportunity to sample shark species and to gather valuable life history information. Lengths, sexes, and biological samples are collected for use in age and growth.

To determine the ages and growth rates of sharks

NEFSC Data Access Procedure:

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 if 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.

May contain PII, such as vessel names, capt names, location data, etc.

NEFSC Data Access Constraint:

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.

Vessel names and specific catch locations must be kept confidential.

MS Excel File, local (lnatanson)

The age data are as accurate as the band counts technique allows, the method can be subjective and only experienced readers aged these fish. Supporting data are as accurate as measuement data can be with different people doing the data collection

Some data incomplete depending on the sampler.

Data validation during data collection and data validation during data entry

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

Data collected directly by APP staff and associates in the Northeast US. Collection dates back as far as 50 years.