The Fisheries Information Network for Virginia's Freshwater Fish Data

Biologists at the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) collect valuable fish data from streams and lakes statewide, but efficient storage and use of these data has been inhibited by a cumbersome data management system.  Data collected from cold water streams, warm water streams and lakes are currently housed and managed in three separate Access databases.  Data are commonly entered and stored on biologists’ hard drives, requiring transfers of data to the master database and increasing the potential for data loss.  Most of these data do not make it to the server at VDGIF headquarters, where data are used by internal and external constituents to make important decisions concerning Virginia wildlife.  VDGIF is investigating a new data management system that is based on the Fisheries Information Network System (FINS) developed by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC).  MDC has offered FINS to other state agencies with the goal of improving data management and sharing.  This presentation will outline VDGIF’s process of evaluating FINS as the new data management system and adapting FINS to meet VDGIF needs.