Data Collection and Annual Reports

In American Samoa, fishing data are collected by the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) and the NMFS Western Pacific Fisheries Information Network (WPacFIN). DMWR utilizes a boat-based and shore-based creel survey to intercept fishermen and collect both catch and effort data directly from fishermen. Fishermen are voluntarily asked for information on species caught, location, gear, and weather. A mandatory commercial purchase system (receipt book) is also in place to collect information from businesses that buy fish directly from fishermen. This form collects information on the number of fish, weight, price per pound, fishing method, area fished, fishermen’s name and fish imported.

The Council produces annual reports on American Samoa fisheries through contributions of data and analyses from the American Samoa DMWR, NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), WPacFIN, and NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office. For the 2001 through 2005 annual reports for bottomfish and seamount groundfish, click here For 2000 through 2006 annual reports on the pelagics fisheries, click here.