What FIS Does

Helps Commission, state, NMFS HQ, and Regional folks learn from each other.
Helps folks move to the electronic age.
Helps fishermen apply for permits, regions collect fees and researchers survey fishermen.
Helps the Agency meet IQA, NEPA, and Magnuson Act requirements
Connects and collects data by making data easier to use and determining what data is missing.
Documents existing data so we know what is available so as to minimize redundant data.
Improves data quality so scientists do better stock assessments, quota monitors can more effectively make in-season decisions, and minimize lawsuits against fisheries managers.
Reduces the number of HQ data calls and Congressional fisheries queries.

 

 

A Historical Look Back at FIS

 

In 1996, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act was reauthorized. Section 401 contained a mandate to implement a plan for a nationwide Fisheries Information System (FIS) and the Fishing Vessel Registration System (VRS). In a 1998 report to Congress (PDF, 831Kb) (announced in the June 26, 1998 Federal Register (PDF, 18Kb)) the FIS conceptual model was defined with the integration and harmonization of fisheries data collection and management to form a virtual national system. Data linkage using common vessel/participant identifiers was proposed. Regional implementation in cooperation with the states, the fishery management councils and the marine fisheries commissions and a highly collaborative process with stakeholder involvement were envisioned.

 

The FIS requirements were developed to fix the problems of imprecise data on assessed stocks and extremely limited data on many exploited stocks; burdensome collection and data management processes requiring duplicate reporting by stakeholders; and inadequate economic and social impact analyses resulting in court challenges with dramatic staff costs and burdens on the agency.

 

In February 2003, Dr. Hogarth, NOAA Fisheries Director, issued a tasking memorandum (PDF, 4.7Mb) directing the Office of Science and Technology (F/ST) to work with the regions and science centers that have responsibility for fisheries statistics programs that collect, process, and manage fishery dependent data necessary to support implementation of FIS. In response to this, F/ST hosted a conference call in March 2003 with representatives from almost all of the region and science center offices to discuss initiating pilot implementation projects that would support national database integration. In November 2003, the first national FIS meeting was hosted in Silver Spring, at which the FIS vision and goals were finalized, and specific objectives for the FIS were defined. The meeting was closed with a commitment from participants to move the FIS project forward.

 

Dr. Sissenwine, NOAA Fisheries Chief Science Advisor, sent a January 2004 memorandum (PDF, 72Kb) to Regional Administrators and Science Center Directors, urging them to provide strong support to FIS development. Several regional and science center staff members participate on the five professional specialty groups (PSGs) that have been developed to implement various components of FIS.