The Data

Data Source: Data are from the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Science and Technology, Fisheries Statistics and Economics Division. In addition, data on foreign and joint-venture landings for Alaska came from Kinoshita et al. (1993 and 1997) and NMFS “blend data” for June 2000 (for a description of “blend data,” see http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/sustainablefisheries/blend.htm). The estimates for foreign catches that occurred prior to the establishment of the Fisheries Conservation Zone in 1976 (dotted line in the figure) came from Wise (1991) and are based on NMFS data; however, these data could not be verified.

Data Collection Methodology: Fish landings data for the Pacific Coast were collected by four state fishery agencies, and NMFS reported fish processed at sea by U.S. boats (fish processed by foreign boats and then exported are not reported). On the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, landings data were usually collected cooperatively by the 19 state fishery agencies and NMFS. Some data were also collected by marine fishery commissions.

Atlantic and Gulf commercial fishery data represent a census of landings and were principally reported using seafood dealer weighout slips, while data on the Pacific coast were principally reported using trip ticket reports and observer reports for at-sea processors. Since 1994, an increasing portion of the fishery catch and effort data for federally managed species has been collected using federally mandated logbooks. The use of Vessel Monitoring Systems and other electronic data collection and reporting methods is relatively recent and is limited to a small sector of U.S. fisheries. Note that NMFS has historically included all commercial landings of mollusks in these data, in part because it is not provided with information that will allow it to separate wild-caught from cultured mollusks. In terms of finfish (simply termed “fish” here), those raised by aquaculture are not included with the exception of Alaska salmon, which are released at smolt size (2–4 inches in length) and are caught several years later when they return from the ocean to spawn.

Data Manipulation: All finfish landings have been transformed, when necessary, from landed weight (e.g., dressed, filleted) to round (live) weight equivalents. All mollusks have been standardized from the collected landing report format (e.g., bushels, totes, gallons, counts, and dozens) and reported as meat weight (i.e., without shell) landings. The collecting state and federal agencies themselves transform the landings data.

Data Quality/Caveats: The National Research Council conducted a review of NMFS fisheries data and published Improving the Collection, Management, and Use of Marine Fisheries Data in 2000. The report made several recommendations for strengthening fishery data collection, such as implementing a national set of standards and protocols under the umbrella of a Fisheries Information System, but no serious flaws in the existing data collection system were noted.

Data Access: Non-confidential commercial fisheries landings data for 1950–2000 are available at no cost from the NMFS Fisheries Statistics and Economics Division Web site (http://www.st.nmfs.gov/st1/commercial/index.html). The Web site allows users to summarize the data by year, region, state, species, fishing gear, pounds, and dollars.

2003 Web Site Update: Data for 2000, 2001, and 2002 were added in this update. Data were provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service.

2005 Web Site Update: Data for 2003 and 2004 were added in this update. Data were provided by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA) and are available at the NOAA Website listed under Data Access.

References

Kinoshita, R.K., A. Greig, D. Colpo, and J.M. Terry. 1993. Economic status of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska, 1991. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-15.

Kinoshita, R.K., A. Greig, D. Colpo, and J.M. Terry. 1997. Economic status of the groundfish fisheries off Alaska, 1995. U.S. Dept. Commer., NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-AFSC-72.

Wise, J.P. 1991. Federal conservation and management of marine fisheries in the United States. Washington, DC: Center for Marine Conservation.