Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics (CWP)

Data collection systems

CWP Member Organizations' use various instruments for the collection of capture fishery and aquaculture data from the national authorities including the STATLANT system of questionnaires. This system was introduced by CWP in the early 1960s and pioneered the use of standard formats and harmonized concepts, definitions and codes in capture fishery statistics, while accommodating regional differences in the reporting of data on species caught and areas fished. On any one topic the national statistical authorities are requested to complete a single questionnaire, providing copies to all interested agencies. This procedure also largely reduces the possibility of discrepancies between different databases. The questionnaires are compiled annually into global and regional capture fishery statistics.

The STATLANT system of questionnaires allows the reporting of data at varying levels of precision (refer also Fishing effort) including:

  • STATLANT A questionnaires cover the reporting of annual catch data, requesting a breakdown of catches by species and statistical sub-division of the relevant FAO major fishing area, coinciding as appropriate with the area of competence of each fishery management and/or conservation organization.
  • STATLANT B questionnaires cover the reporting of annual data on catches and the associated fishing effort, requesting a breakdown by species, statistical sub-division of the FAO major fishing area, month of capture, fishing gear, size class of fishing vessel and target species.
  • STATPAC questionnaires cover the reporting of annual catch data, requesting a breakdown of catches by species and selected FAO major fishing area in the Southeast Pacific Ocean.

In addition, the FISHSTAT questionnaires are used by FAO and other CWP Members to collate global fishery and aquaculture statistics covering different types of data.

STATLANT questionnaires and notes for completion are available from a dedicated FAO webpage.