Presentations from the
7th Annual OFWIM Conference
Baltimore, Maryland
November 1st-5th, 2002

Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Data Collection and Data Management (Osborn/Cahall/Compton, ACCSP)

The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) is a cooperative state-federal program to design, implement, and conduct marine fisheries statistics data collection programs and to integrate those data into a single data management system that will meet the needs of fishery managers, scientists, and fisherman. Initially focusing on fishery-dependent data, program partners have examined the data collection needs for commercial, recreational, and for-hire fisheries coastwide, and set minimum standards for collecting relevant data from each. Planning began with establishment of an MOU in 1993 and implementation has been progressing rapidly since the late 1990s. The budget of the ACCSP has grown to $3.5 million in 2002, funding over 40 projects to implement the system since 1999. The ACCSP's online data management system uses state-of-the-are technology and currently offers commercial and recreational catch and effort data. The ACCSP's recreational data are collected through the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (MRFSS). Commercial catch and effort data are currently available from five of the 17 ACCSP partners charged with collecting coastal fishery data. The remaining partners' data are being added as they meet the ACCSP's minimum standards. Confidentiality rules control access to trip-level commercial data. Since its 1995 inception, the ACCSP's success has depended on participation from its 23 partners. As online availability of catch and effort data grows, and collection standards for catch, socio-economic and fishery-dependent data are established, and programs implemented, the ACCSP will provide standardized and timely data needed for responsible resource management.

Visit the ACCSP Web site at: http://www.accsp.org

This presentation available as:
PowerPoint presentation (Osborn/Cahall/Compton): Atlantic Data (PPT)
Adobe Acrobat Reader file (Osborn/Cahall/Compton): Atlantic Data (PDF)