The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program: Data from Yesteryear and Yesterday

The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) is a cooperative state-federal program. One of the major tasks for the ACCSP is synthesis of data from 23 state and federal partners into a single dataset in order to provide the most complete picture of Atlantic coastal catch-effort data possible. This goal is achieved in two ways. First, the biannual compilation of data from approximately 35 datasets results in a comprehensive dataset available on-line via the ACCSP Data Warehouse. Using Oracle Discoverer Viewer the ACCSP has created various prebuilt, interactive queries for users to obtain data from 1950 to the previous year. Data for each year are available to the public in mid to late April of the following year. Second, since 2004, the ACCSP has provided its state and federal Program partners with the Standard Atlantic Fisheries Information System (SAFIS), a real-time web-based reporting tool for commercial and recreational landings on the Atlantic coast. The APEX applications that fall under the SAFIS umbrella include trip reporting for dealers, commercial fishers and recreational fishers. The data entered into the SAFIS system are fully available to data managers the next day. A dealer or fisher can retrieve current and past submissions at any time. These two methods of data collection and dissemination result in data that are as complete and accurate as possible for public users and managers interested in long-term trends and as timely as necessary for those managing quotas or sectors. The ACCSP has used new technologies to improve the timeliness and availability of data, while still maintaining quality and accuracy.