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Data Collection and Annual ReportsIn the Marianas Archipelago, fishing data are collected by the Guam Department of Aquatic and Wildlife Resources (DAWR), CNMI Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) and the NMFS Western Pacific Fisheries Information Network (WPacFIN). In Guam, the DAWR collects information through an offshore creel survey and the commercial purchase system. The Offshore Creel Survey conducts voluntary intercept surveys at Agana Boat Basin, the Agat Marina, and the Merizo boat ramp at randomly selected dates. Some of the information collected in this survey include number of fishermen, hours fished, type of gear, type of bait and meterological data (e.g. wind speed, rain, moon phase, etc.). The Commercial Purchase System is a voluntary program allows fish wholesalers to provide information on fishing method, areas fished, price per pound, pounds caught and total value to WPacFIN through DAWR.
In American Samoa, fishing data are collected by the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) and 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. For detailed information, data collection forms, and fishery statistics, please see the WPacFIN website. In Hawaii, fishing data are collected by the State of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources (DAR), the NMFS Western Pacific Fisheries Information Network (WPacFIN) DAR collects commercial fishery data through its Commercial Marine License (CML) program. The CML is required for any person taking marine life for commercial purposes and requires the report of all fish caught regardless of whether it was sold or not. DAR also requires licenses for any CML holder using a small mesh net to take certain fish for use as live bait, fishing using nets, spearfishing, squiding, lobster diving or traps, and for all commercial marine dealers to report their purchase of marine life. This system of dealers and fishermen licenses provides verification of commercial catch data. Recreational fishing data is collected through the Hawaii Marine Recreational Fishing Survey (HMRFS) which provides estimates of recreational fishery catch through combined intercept and phone surveys. For detailed information, data collection forms, and fishery statistics, please see the WPacFIN website. Annual ReportsThe Council produces annual reports on its fisheries through contributions of data and analyses from the NMFS Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), WPacFIN, DMWR, DFW, DAWR, DAR, HMRFS, Pelagic Fisheries Research Program and NMFS Pacific Islands Regional Office. Pacific Pelagic Fishery Ecosystem Plan Annual Reports
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The CNMI also collects data through voluntary offshore creel surveys and a Commercial Purchase System. The Offshore Creel Survey collects essential fishery information such as fishing methods, pounds caught, etc, but also provides a census on boats/trailers at the most active launching ramps/docks on Saipan. The Commercial Purchase System in CNMI, known as the “trip ticket” system, collects sales receipt information from fish wholesaler invoices in Saipan, Rota and Tinian. DFW routinely provides and collects dealer invoices that provide information on the dealer, the seller, species, pounds, price per pound and total value.