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NEFSC Metadata Library > Fishery Monitoring & Research Division (FMRD) > Northeast Cooperative Research Program (NCRP) >

Northeast Electronic Reporting System (NERS)

Data Set (DS)  |  Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:26731  |  Updated: March 4, 2026  |  Published / External 
Short Citation:
Full Citation Examples
Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 2026: Northeast Electronic Reporting System (NERS), https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/26731.

Item Identification

Title: Northeast Electronic Reporting System (NERS)
Short Name: Northeast Electronic Reporting System (NERS)
Status: Completed
Abstract:

The NOAA/NEFSC Study fleets are a subset of fishing vessels from which high quality, self-reported data on fishing effort, area fished, gear characteristics, catch, and biological observations are collected. Participating vessels collect data within their permitted fisheries using normal commercial fishing operations, and are selected to address specific research topics. Vessels collect data via electronic logbook (ELB) and submit the data to NMFS (refer to VERS system for details). The data collected by the vessel operators serve as the basis for ancillary data which are collected by Study Fleet staff and are usually associated with one or more targeted research objectives. The data collected from these vessels can be used to supplement the stock assessment process and are especially useful when catch data are limited.
Purpose:

The NEFSC Study Fleet program was initiated to assemble groups of commercial New England vessels capable of providing high resolution (temporal and spatial) self-reported data on catch, effort and environmental conditions while conducting "normal" fishing operations. The ultimate goals are for scientific researchers to:

Provide additional data sources to the stock assessment process

Gain a better understanding of fishing operation in the region

Improve the accuracy and precision of fishery dependent data

Examine the catch estimation error associated with fishery dependent data

Collect biological samples based on specific special/temporal needs

Collect oceanographic data (temperature depth) during fishing activities
Supplemental Information:

The NEFSC Study Fleet Program is a Cooperative Research program. Cooperative Research is designed to bring stakeholders together in a spirit of mutual participation, enabling an environment of shared knowledge and collaborative management strategies. As such, the Study Fleet program provides several benefits to its commercial participants including:

Participate directly in the scientific data collection process

Documentation of fishery and anecdotal knowledge inaccessible to researchers

Sharing of ideas and observations among fisheries scientists and commercial fishermen

Gain insight into how environmental factors influence catch rates

Financial compensation for time and effort involved

Keywords

Theme Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None area fished
None biological observations
None catch
None Cooperative Research
None eVTR
None fishing effort
None gear characteristics
None self-reported data
None study fleet
None temperature depth

Spatial Keywords

Thesaurus Keyword
UNCONTROLLED
None Mid-Atlantic
None New England

Physical Location

Organization: NEFSC Woods Hole Lab
City: Woods Hole
State/Province: MA
Country: USA

Data Set Information

Data Set Scope Code: Data Set
Data Set Type: Oracle Database
Maintenance Frequency: Continually
Data Presentation Form: Table (digital)

Support Roles

Data Steward

CC ID: 214934
Date Effective From: 2012
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Morin, Michael D
Address: 28 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
USA
Email Address: mike.morin@noaa.gov
Phone: 401-782-3278
Fax: 401-782-3292

Distributor

CC ID: 214937
Date Effective From: 2006
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
Address: 166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026
USA
ROR: https://ror.org/02nc0ck44
Phone: (508)495-2000
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/northeast-fisheries-science-center
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Metadata Contact

CC ID: 214935
Date Effective From: 2012
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Morin, Michael D
Address: 28 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
USA
Email Address: mike.morin@noaa.gov
Phone: 401-782-3278
Fax: 401-782-3292

Originator

CC ID: 214936
Date Effective From: 2006
Date Effective To:
Contact (Organization): Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC)
Address: 166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1026
USA
ROR: https://ror.org/02nc0ck44
Phone: (508)495-2000
URL: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/northeast-fisheries-science-center
Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Point of Contact

CC ID: 214933
Date Effective From: 2006
Date Effective To:
Contact (Person): Hoey, John J
Address: 28 Tarzwell Drive
Narragansett, RI 02882
USA
Email Address: john.hoey@noaa.gov
Phone: 401-782-3323
Fax: 401-782-3201

Extents

Extent Group 1

Extent Group 1 / Geographic Area 1

CC ID: 214938
W° Bound: -76
E° Bound: -67
N° Bound: 45
S° Bound: 35
Description

US/Canada border to Cape Hatteras, NC; Continental East Coast to the boundary of US managed waters

Extent Group 1 / Time Frame 1

CC ID: 214939
Time Frame Type: Continuing
Start: 1996

Access Information

Security Class: Sensitive
Data Access Policy:

NEFSC data set which is governed by NEFSC Data Access Authorization
Data Access Procedure:

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.

Data Access Constraints:

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.
Data Use Constraints:

not applicable

URLs

URL 1

CC ID: 214942
URL: https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/read/popdy/studyfleet
URL Type:
Online Resource
File Resource Format: HTML
Description:

Study Fleet main web page

Technical Environment

Description:

Oracle 11g on Centralized Data Management System

Data Quality

Accuracy:

Data are audited in several ways: a) automated database audit triggers and procedures, b) post load comparison to other data sets (eg. matching biological sample trips to Observer data to examine fishing location and species composition), c) determination of 'realistic' values (eg. does the age determined from an age structure agree with the measured length of the fish)
Quality Control Procedures Employed:

Data validation during data collection, Data validation during data entry, Post audits by internal editors, Database integrity constraints, Matching of vessel reported data to external data sources (eg. VMS and observer data, archival data recording devices), post trip review by fishermen

Data Management

Have Resources for Management of these Data Been Identified?: Yes
Approximate Percentage of Budget for these Data Devoted to Data Management: Unknown
Do these Data Comply with the Data Access Directive?: Yes
Is Access to the Data Limited Based on an Approved Waiver?: Yes
Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Dissemination: 1 - 6 months dependent on NERS component
Actual or Planned Long-Term Data Archive Location: Other
If World Data Center or Other, Specify: NARA
Approximate Delay Between Data Collection and Archiving: Unknown
How Will the Data Be Protected from Accidental or Malicious Modification or Deletion Prior to Receipt by the Archive?:

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

Lineage

Lineage Statement:

Catch data are collected using the FLDRS data collection system (refer to VERS system), these data serve as the basis for additional data elements collected by Study Fleet staff which are stored in the NERS database. Study Fleet staff collect field data both on paper or via electronic application, logistics are dependent upon the particular configuration of the vessel and the data collection objectives of the specific trip.

Related Items

Item Type Relationship Type Title
Data Set (DS) Cross Reference Enhanced Biological Sampling Data

Biological samples commonly (but not exclusively) collected during trips which are included in the NERS system. The processing of these samples is more comprehensive than the SF Biological Sampling program, data are stored in a separate database but contain linkages back to the NERS system.
Data Set (DS) Cross Reference Northeast Cooperative Research Study Fleet (SF) Program Biological Sampling Data

Biological data and samples collected during Study Fleet participant trips which are included in the NERS system
Data Set (DS) Cross Reference Northeast Cooperative Research Study Fleet (SF) Program Combined GPS, Temperature/Depth, and Effort Fishery Dependent Data

Study Fleet Participant GPS, Temperature/Depth and Effort data joined together based on on datetime. All GTE data will be associated with a trip which is included within the NERS system

Catalog Details

Catalog Item ID: 26731
GUID: gov.noaa.nmfs.inport:26731
Metadata Record Created By: Patricia L Jones
Metadata Record Created: 2015-08-31 07:58+0000
Metadata Record Last Modified By: SysAdmin InPortAdmin
Metadata Record Last Modified: 2026-03-04 19:17+0000
Metadata Record Published: 2016-09-01
Owner Org: NEFSC
Metadata Publication Status: Published Externally
Do Not Publish?: N
Metadata Last Review Date: 2016-09-01
Metadata Review Frequency: 1 Year
Metadata Next Review Date: 2017-09-01