Identification

Title

Length and age data for North Sea Saithe and Barents Sea Cod collected through a self-sampling program in English fisheries 2023 - Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships

Abstract

Two participating vessels collected information on catches and biological data including length data and otoliths from North Sea Saithe and Barents sea cod, between March 2023 and February 2024. This work was carried out as part of the Fisheries Industry Science Partnerships (FISP). This project was led by the fishing industry, in partnership with Cefas. This project aimed to set up a cost-effective continuous data collection programme for the industry to collect robust biological scientific data on national fisheries that are not covered by the current national sampling programmes, with the long-term aim to feed into the ICES stock assessment. This project presented an opportunity to engage the industry in the collection of biological samples from areas logistically difficult to sample routinely. The data shown includes summary catches of the target species (saithe and cod) in each trip and the length collected for those species, in each haul.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

https://data.cefas.co.uk/view/22004

name: Cefas Data Portal

description: The Cefas Data Portal contains metadata records and data sets available to download and connect to in support of our commitment to open science. Data is available in the following formats: CSV.

function: download

Unique resource identifier

code

CEFAS22004

codeSpace

https://data.cefas.co.uk

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2011-03-25

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2011-03-25

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2008-06-01

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-05-18

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2012-01-11

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2012-01-11

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-4.50

East bounding longitude

9.00

North bounding latitude

61.00

South bounding latitude

51.00

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2023-03-15

End position

2024-02-01

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2024-08-29

date type

revision

effective date

2024-09-03

date type

creation

effective date

2024-08-02

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

The crew of the two participating vessels collected individual length data and otoliths from North Sea Saithe and Barents sea cod. All the sampling equipment was provided to each vessel (i.e. measuring boards, otoliths trays and envelops, sampling sheets). Cefas Senior at sea observer provided the necessary training to vessels and crew to carry out the sampling. Training included how to execute the data collection (record length, collect otoliths, muscle and fin clips from different species and how to store them); how to sub-sample from different components of the catch when required; familiarisation of different measuring protocols for different species. The sampling protocols and procedures followed Cefas data collection standards and were adapted to each participating vessel, according to their layout, crew availability, and the way the catch is processed onboard. Length data was collected in every trip during the duration of the project. The data was transmitted to Cefas through different means: photographs of the measuring boards were sent electronically. Haul information, length sheets and otoliths were sent via post. The data was then collated, checked and stored onto Cefas database. Data was analysed for its representativeness of the wider fleet, potential bias and variability. Different methods for data validation and quality assurance (QA) were considered for each participating vessel due to way they operate onboard, how they process their catches and where and how they land, and their feasibility explored. The length data collected by the participating vessels were assessed for its quality, using a Cefas observer onboard and using data collected independently by the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government (MD). The length distributions from the different sources (self-sampling, Observer and MD sampling programmes) showed that, generally, the length distribution collected by the self-sampling programmes are comparable, indicating that the industry has the capability to collect data that is representative of the wider fleet . The data also indicated that the sampling had a good spatial and temporal coverage. This project successfully demonstrated that industry-led data collection can provide high quality data, representative of the fleet, with high spatial and temporal resolution, and with low associated costs. However, future refinements are necessary to streamline and optimize the self-sampling to reduce the workload of the skippers and crew, whilst ensuring high data quality standards. A future incorporation of self-sampling data into stock assessment processes would require developing a robust process for raising the sampling data to haul, trip and vessel levels and protocols to integrate these data with data from other sampling programme(s). Although this was achieved during this project, lessons learnt allowed the identification of practical issues that would need to be addressed to ensure robust estimates and its incorporation into stock assessments.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2013-12-10

degree

false

explanation

See the referenced specification

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2010-12-08

degree

true

explanation

See the referenced specification

Data format

name of format

Unknown

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

organisation name

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS)

full postal address

Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory

Pakefield Road

Lowestoft

NR33 0HT

UK

email address

data.manager@cefas.co.uk

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

organisation name

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS)

full postal address

Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory

Pakefield Road

Lowestoft

NR33 0HT

UK

email address

data.manager@cefas.co.uk

responsible party role

custodian

Responsible party

organisation name

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS)

full postal address

Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory

Pakefield Road

Lowestoft

NR33 0HT

UK

email address

data.manager@cefas.co.uk

responsible party role

distributor

Responsible party

organisation name

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)

email address

defra.helpline@defra.gov.uk

responsible party role

owner

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

organisation name

Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory (CEFAS)

full postal address

Cefas Lowestoft Laboratory

Pakefield Road

Lowestoft

NR33 0HT

UK

email address

data.manager@cefas.co.uk

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2024-09-03T11:40:44

Metadata language