Data collection
In accordance to its mandate, FAO is responsible for the worldwide collection, validation and dissemination of data and information related to food and agriculture. As such, FAO collects relevant national statistical information on a regular basis.
The questionnaires designed by FAO are part of the organization's effort to systematically collect and report national data on a wide range of topics. The data collection processes presented below offer an entry point to each FAO questionnaire and provide up-to-date information on the data collection periods, as well as the primary focal point for each questionnaire and associated methodological resources. Such information is freely accessible and designed to inform data users and data providers on the FAO data collection and production practices.
- For more information regarding a specific questionnaire or data collection process, please contact the designated focal point in the organization.
- For general inquiries, please contact: [email protected].
Questionnaires
Fishery and Aquaculture
Purpose
To collect annually data on aquaculture production, in particular on production volume and value by species, countries or areas, FAO major fishing areas and culture aquatic environment.
Outputs
These data represent the only global source of aquaculture production and are used as a basis to produce Food Balance Sheets, but also to monitor the evolution of the sector, for global analysis and sector studies.
Data are disseminated on FishStatJ, Online Query Panel and in FAO Yearbook of Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics.
Main developments foreseen for 2022
None.
| Schedule | Transmission date: June Submission date: August |
| Data and methodology | Questionnaire Methodology Data frequency - Annual |
| Contact | Xiaowei Zhou |
Purpose
To collect annually data on capture fisheries production by countries or areas, species items, and FAO Major Fishing Area.
Outputs
These data represent the only global source of capture fisheries production and are used as a basis to produce Food Balance Sheets, but also to monitor the evolution of the sector, for global analysis and sector studies.
Data are disseminated on FishStatJ, Online query panel and in FAO Yearbook of Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics.
Main developments foreseen for 2022
None.
| Schedule | Transmission date: June Submission date: August |
| Data and methodology | Questionnaire Methodology Data frequency - Annual |
| Contact | James Geehan |
Purpose
On behalf of different Regional Fisheries Bodies, to collect annually data on capture fisheries production by countries or areas, species item and fishing areas for selected regions (Eastern Central Atlantic, Mediterranean and Black Sea, Southeast Atlantic and Regional Commission for Fisheries).
Outputs
Information collected is typically used for regional analysis and studies.
Data are disseminated on FishStatJ and in the Online query panel.
Main developments foreseen for 2022
None.
| Schedule | Transmission date: June Submission date: August |
| Data and methodology | Questionnaire Methodology Data frequency - Annual |
| Contact | James Geehan |
Purpose
To collect annually data on utilization of fishery and aquaculture production by country or areas, and by disposition form.
Outputs
Information collected is typically used for global analysis and sector studies. Data are used as a basis to produce Food Balance Sheets, and disseminated in aggregated format in the FAO Yearbook Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics.
Main developments foreseen for 2022
None.
| Schedule | Transmission date: June Submission date: August |
| Data and methodology | Questionnaire Methodology Data frequency - Annual |
| Contact | Adrienne Egger |
Purpose
To collect annually data on production of processed and preserved fishery and aquaculture commodities by countries or areas in terms of volume.
Outputs
These data represent the only global source of production of fisheries and aquaculture commodities and are used as a basis to produce Food Balance Sheets, but also to monitor the evolution of the sector, global analysis and sector studies.
Data are disseminated FishStatj, online query panel and in FAO Yearbook Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics.
Main developments foreseen for 2022
None.
| Schedule | Transmission date: June Submission date: August |
| Data and methodology | Questionnaire Methodology Data frequency - Annual |
| Contact | Adrienne Egger |
Purpose
To collect annually, for a limited number of countries, data on imports, exports and re-exports of fishery and aquaculture commodities by countries or areas, commodities and trade flows both in terms of volume and value.
Outputs
These data represent the most comprehensive collection of fisheries and aquaculture commodities and are used as a basis to produce Food Balance Sheets, but also to monitor the evolution of the sector for global analysis and sector studies.
Data are disseminated on FishStatJ, online query panel (Global fish trade - All partners aggregated; Global fish trade - By partner country) and in FAO Yearbook Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics.
Main developments foreseen for 2022
None.
| Schedule | Transmission date: June Submission date: August |
| Data and methodology | Questionnaire Methodology Data frequency - Annual |
| Contact | Adrienne Egger |
Purpose
To collect annually data on primary employment in fisheries and aquaculture, in particular the number of people employed annually in commercial and subsistence fishing, by sector, working time status, and gender, by countries or areas.
Outputs
These data are used to monitor the evolution of the sector, for global analysis and sector studies.
Data are disseminated in the FAO Yearbook Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics.
Main developments foreseen for 2024
None.
| Schedule | Transmission date: June Submission date: August |
| Data and methodology | Questionnaire Methodology Data frequency - Annual |
| Contact | Orsolya Mikecz |
Purpose
To collect annually data on fishery fleet by countries or areas.
Outputs
These data are used to monitor the evolution of the sector, for global analysis and sector studies.
Data are disseminated in the FAO Yearbook Fishery and Aquaculture Statistics.
Main developments foreseen for 2024
None.
| Schedule | Transmission date: June Submission date: August |
| Data and methodology | Questionnaire Methodology Data frequency - Annual |
| Contact | Orsolya Mikecz |
Purpose
This questionnaire is dedicated to the national reporting and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator 14.4.1 “Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels”, of which FAO is the custodian agency. The results will provide policy makers with comprehensive information on the state of fish stocks at regional and global levels towards reaching the target SDG 14.4. The collected data are also expected to identify countries’ capacities in producing assessments so FAO can provide necessary capacity development.
Benefits of reporting for countries: Reporting on Indicator 14.4.1 can aid countries gain visibility in global and regional progress reports and can act to benchmark each country’s performance against that of other countries. This may aid in guiding national priorities and policy decisions. Indicator reporting is the basis for international development partners to guide investment decisions and allocation of resources. Moreover, aligning national monitoring frameworks to the global ones can significantly reduce the reporting burdens on countries; enable the assessment of data gaps and capacity development needs; facilitates the possibility of receiving technical assistance by international agencies; and ensures consistency between National, Regional and Global level indicators.
Outputs
The questionnaire enables FAO to produce SDG Indicator 14.4.1 scores at national levels. FAO will disseminate these national indicator scores, unless otherwise specified by the country, on FAOSTAT, FAO SDG data portal, and the UNSDG data portal on the SDG indicators.
Specific information provided by Fish stock will also be made public through FAO’s Global Record or Stocks and Fisheries (GRSF), unless otherwise specified by the country. These data will be used internally by FAO to ensure the quality of aggregate assessments at national and regional levels, and to assist in the convergence of national SDG 14.4.1 indicators with the global indicator.
Main developments foreseen for 2023
Data reported in the Questionnaire will be considered for aggregate assessments at national and regional levels, in the context of the revision of FAO’s methodology for producing regional and global indicator SDG14.4.1 as published through its SOFIA publication. One important aspect of this methodological revision is to help converge national SDG 14.4.1 indicators with the global indicator.
| Schedule | Transmission date: 25 November 2022 Submission date: 28 February 2023 |
| Data and methodology | Questionnaire Methodology Data frequency - Annual |
| Contact | Yimin Ye; Marc Taconet |