Longnose Lancetfish Data Set

The data described here include prey item identifications and specifications from dissected stomachs of longnose lancetfish, as part of NOAA's ongoing Lancetfish diet study. These data were gathered around the North Pacific from 2014 to 2023 and are currently ongoing. These data are part of NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), Ecosystem Sciences Division (ESD), Pelagic Research Program (PRP). These stomachs were collected from Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) observers aboard longline vessels and prey data were recorded by employees in the labs at PIFSC.

The Lancetfish diet study is crucial to understanding the midwater prey community that supports other pelagic predators of interest like tuna and billfish. Lancetfish are common bycatch on the tuna longlines and are easily accessible. They provide us with high-quality prey that facilitate easy identification.

While every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate and reliable within the limits of the current state of the art, NOAA cannot assume liability for any damages caused by errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NOAA makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.

Fisheries data in this database are subject to confidentiality of information requirements under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act or MSA) and are not available to the public except in summary aggregate form. Information on requesting access to these data can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/inport/item/9027. Non-confidential data tables from the database are not subject to these requirements.

To access non-confidential data tables, please email the Metadata Contact with your request. Requests will be addressed, and non-confidential data shared, as staff capacity allows.

Data are maintained on a secure server due to the inclusion of one data table with confidential data. Therefore, public access cannot be provided. See Data Access Procedure for details on receiving non-confidential data.

The data set is stored via an Oracle database that is updated through an R Studio ODBC connection. Data is entered onto an excel sheet which is then uploaded onto R Studio and subsequently updated through the Oracle database connection.

There are two species of lancetfish that are known to exist, however the shortnose lancetfish has not been found in the areas around the Hawaiian Islands. Prey items are identified with the help of experts at PIFSC and Scripss Institution of Oceanography using expertise and taxonomic identification guides.

This is an ongoing time series data beginning in 2014. We have over 4,000 stomachs recorded with prey identifications made to the lowest taxonomic rank when possible. Sampling was paused during the COVID pandemic and resumed in 2022. Samples that do not contain corresponding catch data are not utilized.

All stomachs are processed in the same manner.

The diet database is thoroughly analyzed each year and revised when necessary.

NCEI-MD does not accept fisheries confidential data at this time.

PIFSC ITS performed scheduled backups.

The prey data is collected from dissected longnose lancetfish stomachs by employees in the labs at PIFSC. Data is entered onto an excel sheet which is then uploaded onto R Studio and subsequently the Oracle table is updated through the Oracle database connection.