Quality Assurance Metrics in Catch Share Data Management

The catch share management model brings new challenges to effective data quality, since it restructures the relationship between management and commercial fishermen. Because accurate and correct data is crucial to effective fisheries management, new data quality efforts using the catch share model in the northeast are being implemented. The efforts have focused primarily on 2 separate groups: external, between management agencies and fisheries managers; and internal, within the management agency. Methodologies for reconciling external-to-internal data quality issues will be explained, and include weekly data summaries by stock within catch shares, and real-time trip matching efforts between share-reported trips and fish dealers. Methodologies for data quality determination within the management agency include summary status reports and graphical descriptions of data quality categorical breakdowns. Using both tools simultaneously allows catch share management agencies to address issues arising both internally and externally.