Arlington, VA (May 10, 2012) – The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) is proud to release the latest edition of the Atlantic Coast Fisheries Data Collection Standards. This document is considered the blueprint for the Program, as well as partners, and will be used to direct partner data collection over the next several years.
Major highlights of this document include a call for more timely data, specifically:
· Within the recreational (Private boat, rental boat, and shore based fisheries) and for-hire fisheries, the frequency of calculating catch and effort estimates was recommended as 1 month from the previous recommendation of 2 months.
· Within the recreational and for-hire fisheries, data availability (data collection and processing prior to initial review) was recommended as 38 days (preferably, 30 days) from the previous recommendation of 45 days.
· Various conditions for accepting either census or survey methodology were recommended within for-hire fisheries for estimating catch and effort data.
· Biological data is recommended as being collected every 30 days from the previous recommendation of 6 months.
Mark Alexander, Chair of the ACCSP Coordinating Council, states that these standards “are significant because they’ve been compiled by very knowledgeable professionals from all the Atlantic coast federal, state, and regional partners of the ACCSP. The breadth and detail of this collaboration makes it an essential resource that we expect all data collectors will come to rely on. Using this guide for sound and effective data collection will no doubt inform sound and effective fisheries management decisions”.
If you would like to learn more about the Atlantic Coast Fisheries Data Collection Standards the ACCSP is conducting a webinar on Thursday, June 7 at 10am EST. Please contact Ann McElhatton, Program Manager with ACCSP, at info@accsp.org or 703.842.0780 for more information on registration.
Read the latest edition of the Atlantic Coast Fisheries Data Collection Standards.
Register for the Atlantic Coast Fisheries Data Collection Standards Webinar.