Fishing Revenue-Intensity Raster Database, 2007-2012

These revenue-intensity rasters were built as part of an effort to improve upon the spatial precision of self-reported Vessel Trip Report (VTR) fishing locations. Merging VTR information with data collected by at-sea fisheries observers, statistical models were developed to estimate cumulative distribution functions (CDF) for the distance between VTR points and observed set/haul locations. This method allows us to generate predictions for the spatial footprint of fishing from variables reported on the VTR (e.g. gear type and length of trip) that are and theoretically linked to the trip’s footprint. This process was used to develop a fishing revenue-intensity raster dataset for the years 2007 through 2012, the period studied in the above-mentioned NMFS socio-economic impact report. For additional detail on the process of developing this raster dataset of "fishing footprints," see NOAA Tech Memo NE-229 (DePiper 2014).

These revenue-intensity rasters were built as part of an effort to improve upon the spatial precision of self-reported Vessel Trip Report (VTR) fishing locations.

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.

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.

Raster datasets were developed on Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Operating System, Model Optiplex 790. Raster dataset was produced using the open-source software R v. 3.11.

Raster files included in this dataset were developed as an improvement upon the standard method of interpreting VTR data (as in, summing fishing trip data to a ten-minute square grid). The VTR data is now represented in a revenue-intensity "heat" map for groups of trips, with a resolution of 500m grid cells. These rasters provide a more nuanced visualization of VTR data, but users should note that any caveats associated with VTR data will also be true in this dataset.

This dataset is consistent with measures used in collecting VTR data.

Quality control measures used for this dataset are consistent with those used for VTR data, due to the use of data provided in the at-sea observer program to assess depth, and set and haul locations as reported by VTR.

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

For additional detail on the process of developing this raster dataset of "fishing footprints," see NOAA Tech Memo NE-229 (DePiper 2014) - at this link: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/publications/tm/tm229/