Total numbers of individual fish identified during the Cefas Young Fish Survey (YFS) which ran from 1981 to 2010. The survey deployed a light 2-meter beam trawl to survey inshore locations for small / young fish around the British Isles, predominantly along the south and east coasts. Total numbers of fish (identified to species or if not to the highest taxonomic level) were recorded at each station, and were measured in the majority of cases. The surveys were primarily undertaken to evaluate the abundance of juvenile sole and plaice, as well as providing further information on the abundance of other species of fish. Alongside the main 'Young Fish Survey Data 1981 to 2010' data table are three further data tables marked as 'YFS_DWC' which give the same data in EventCore format and a readme file which describes historic versions of metadata which this record has replaced.

The Pre-recruit survey project is collaborative involving researchers from the FE Division based in 3 laboratories (Newport, Seattle and Hammond), scientists from the Southwest Fisheries Science Center (Santa Cruz), along with researchers from several universities (Oregon State University, University of Oregon, University of Washington, University of California, Santa Cruz). In concert with a similar SWFSC survey effort through California, the purpose of this project is to conduct annual surveys within the coastal ecosystem off Oregon and Washington to quantify the environmental conditions and biota found along the California Current and to elucidate ecosystem-level processes affecting managed and protected marine resources. This project currently supports three main efforts: An annual sampling regime of the hydrology, plankton, small fish, and predators along transects over the Continental Shelf from Oregon and Washington. This consistent survey has generated significant information on within- and between-year variability in the California Current Marine Ecosystem and has yielded valuable insights into the food web off our coast. Collection of specimens for diet analysis, growth, containment load, and other studies related to the ecology and production of commercially important taxa and their relationships within the food web. Parameters and ecological processes quantified during this effort are used in forecasts involving species, assemblages, and ecosystems and also to parameterize ecosystem models used to evaluate cumulative risks and managerial strategies. We towed a Cobb Trawl at 30 m at all stations.

This layer contains data from Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (MDDNR) Juvenile Striped Bass Seine Survey (http://dnr2.maryland.gov/fisheries/Pages/striped-bass/juvenile-index.aspx). The annual survey documents year-class success for young-of-the-year striped bass and relative abundance of other fish species. Sampling is conducted monthly from July-September at 22 fixed stations per year, although the frequency of sampling and locations of some stations has changed over time. During each round of sampling, replicate seine hauls are taken at each site. In addition, auxiliary stations are occasionally sampled to enhance spatial coverage, although these are not included in survey indices. A 30.5 x1.24 m bagless beach seine with 6.4 mm bar mesh is laid out perpendicular to the beach and swept with the current for a target sample area of 729 m2. All finfish are identified to species and counted, with striped bass and other select species measured and identified as age 0 or age +1. This layer contains species counts and sizes at all stations and dates sampled in the Choptank from 1959-2014, represented as points.

The dataset includes age- and length-based catch per unit effort data for commercial fish species collected during the Irish Ground Fish trawl survey. AccConstrDescription=This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. This is the most accommodating of licenses offered. Recommended for maximum dissemination and use of licensed materials. AccConstrDisplay=This dataset is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. AccConstrEN=Attribution (CC BY) AccessConstraint=Attribution (CC BY) AccessConstraints=ICES Data Policy: https://www.ices.dk/data/guidelines-and-policy/Pages/ICES-data-policy.aspx Acronym=IE-IGFS BrackishFlag=0 CDate=2010-12-22 cdm_data_type=Other CheckedFlag=0 Citation=Fish trawl survey: Irish Ground Fish Survey for commercial fish species. ICES Database of trawl surveys (DATRAS). The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea, Copenhagen. 2010. Online source: http://ecosystemdata.ices.dk.. Comments=None ContactEmail=None Conventions=COARDS, CF-1.6, ACDD-1.3 CurrencyDate=None DasID=2762 DasOrigin=Monitoring: field survey DasType=Data DasTypeID=1 DescrCompFlag=0 DescrTransFlag=0 Easternmost_Easting=-3.459 EmbargoDate=None EngAbstract=The dataset includes age- and length-based catch per unit effort data for commercial fish species collected during the Irish Ground Fish trawl survey. EngDescr=Fisheries Science Services (FSS) carries out the annual Irish Groundfish Survey (IGFS) in the fourth quarter of each year as part of a larger coordinated survey effort with our EU neighbours (France to the south; and the UK to the north).

A broad spectrum of data is collected during the survey, but the overriding objective is to provide information on commercially exploited fish stocks. In particular the survey provides an index of the proportion of juveniles in the stock, which in turn gives an indication of its spawning success. This is an important source of information not available from commercial landings due to the necessary minimum fish length restrictions on commercial catches.

In addition, the survey provides data on species and environmental parameters in areas of both high and low commercial activity. This gives a better context to data for the entire survey area as opposed to focusing entirely on traditional fishing hot-spots that can remain stable while significant changes in surrounding background abundance and distribution go un-noticed.

The primary goal of the groundfish survey is to develop estimates of juvenile abundance for important species. Measurements of the abundance of juvenile fish are a critical measure of the health of a stock, serving as an annual indication of recruitment (the number of newly spawned fish which enter the population each year) success or failure. Most importantly, they allow forecasting of future commercial abundance.

Survey provides data on the distribution and biology of commercial and non-commercial species of ecological interest, as well as hydrographic and environmental observations. When these data are combined with annual recruitment indices they can help identify the possible causes driving year-class success or failure, and allow us to see long-term changes in populations that may have been caused by fishing, pollution, or climate change. This spatial dataset comprises the haul station location from the trawl survey. The Irish Groundfish Survey feeds into the International Bottom Trawl Survey [ie. IBTS] for international reporting.

The Irish West Coast Groundfish Survey started in 1990 and for the first two years consisted of circa 25 stations concentrated around the Irish coast in ICES Areas Via South and VIIb. Adverse weather in 1992 limited station coverage to only 4 stations which effectively broke the time series.

The survey was re-established in 1993 and has consisted of circa 70 stations, for Parts A and B combined, since then. Spatial coverage was extended west out to the 200m contour, but remains as Via South and VIIb.

Due to the restrictions of the current and previous research vessel commercial trawlers have been contracted to carry out the survey work. Wherever possible continuity of vessel and gear has been maintained and standard IBTS methodology applied. However, due to reduced staffing on commercial vessels it has rarely been possible to completely sort the catch.

Until 2000 all cod were sorted from the catch and then a sub-sample of two baskets was taken and completely sorted. From 2001 onwards, in response to an overall review of survey sampling undertaken during the IPROSTS Project (Anon 2001), the catch is completely sorted for all target species and a qualitative assessment made of the residual catch as a minimum.

The Irish surveys use an ICES rectangle based sampling strategy. The sampling design attempts to allocate at least two stations per rectangle (where the sea area is appropriate). Stations are selected randomly within each rectangle from known clear tow positions.

On the WCGS and ISCGS circa 70 fishing stations are planned on each survey every year. The number of hauls is adjusted according to the ship time available at sea.

The Irish West Coast Groundfish Survey is carried out in two parts: Part A covers ICES Division Via (south) and VIIb (north); Part B covers ICES Division VIIb and VIIj. The survey is conducted from 15 to 300 m depths during the fourth quarter (October - November). The Irish West Coast Groundfish Survey is carried out on chartered commercial fishing vessels. Whilst the same vessel (MFV Marliona, 224 gross tonnage and 30 m LOA) has normally been used each year for Part A and Sionann for Part B, in 2001 Part B was conducted from the MFV Regina Ponti (34.5 m LOA). Both vessels use a Rockhopper net with 12 inch discs and 11 inch Thyboron doors. The nets are fitted with a 20 mm codend liner. Gear performance throughout the survey is monitored using Furuno Ch24 (Headline Monitor).

The Irish Sea Celtic Ground Survey commenced in 1997 and evolved from an earlier Irish Sea Juvenile Fish Survey. As a consequence early survey stations concentrated largely, though not exclusively, around a number of shallow spawning areas along the Irish east coast in VIIa. These positions were expanded in combination with clear tows provided by the industry and CEFAS as well as some exploratory tows.

Spatial coverage therefore extended into the western Irish Sea from 2001 into the area around the Isle of Man, Liverpool and Cardigan Bays and the Welsh coast. The survey is carried out on the Irish research vessel the R.V. Celtic Voyager.

The sampling procedure on board conforms to the IBTS standard protocols and as such all cod are sampled and aged, the entire catch is sorted and then sub-sampled as and where appropriate.

The Irish survey in the Irish Sea and Celtic Sea covers ICES Division VIIa and VIIg. The survey is conducted from 10 to 150 m depths during the fourth quarter (November-December) by the RV Celtic Voyager. This vessel is 32 m in length with gross tonnage of 340 t. The fishing gear used is a GOV 28.9/37.1 Trawl with Morgere Kite (0.85 by 0.85m). Mean vertical opening is 6 m and door spread 48 m. Morgere Polyvalent doors (Type AA4.5) are used and gear performance is monitored throughout the survey using the SCANMAR (RX400) net monitoring system (Headline height, Door spread).

Trials on the new 65m research vessel, the R.V. Celtic Explorer, are due to commence in late 2002. Therefore, from 2003 onwards all Irish Surveys will be conducted on this new vessel, starting around mid October through to late November. FreshFlag=0 geospatial_lat_max=56.5 geospatial_lat_min=50.12 geospatial_lat_units=degrees_north geospatial_lon_max=-3.459 geospatial_lon_min=-14.555 geospatial_lon_units=degrees_east infoUrl=None InputNotes=None institution=MI, ICES License=https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Lineage=None MarineFlag=1 Northernmost_Northing=56.5 OrigAbstract=None OrigDescr=None OrigDescrLang=English OrigDescrLangNL=Engels OrigLangCode=en OrigTitle=None OrigTitleLang=None OrigTitleLangCode=None OrigTitleLangNL=None Progress=Completed PublicFlag=1 ReleaseDate=None ReleaseDate0=None RevisionDate=None SizeReference=More than 170,153 records sourceUrl=(local files) Southernmost_Northing=50.12 standard_name_vocabulary=CF Standard Name Table v70 StandardTitle=Irish Ground Fish Survey for commercial fish species subsetVariables=ScientificName,BasisOfRecord,YearCollected,MonthCollected,DayCollected,sex,aphia_id TerrestrialFlag=0 time_coverage_end=2008-11-28T11:33:00Z time_coverage_start=2003-10-22T09:16:00Z UDate=2022-08-09 VersionDate=None VersionDay=None VersionMonth=None VersionName=None VersionYear=None VlizCoreFlag=1 Westernmost_Easting=-14.555

This dataset contains monthly/annual time series of species-specific abundances and covariates for 137 targeted larval/juvenile fish surveys at sites in a range of English lowland rivers. Larval/juvenile fish data come from two different sources: The Environment Agency’s (EA) National Fish Population Database (NFPD) between 1974 and 2017 and a dataset created by the University of Hull (UoH) between 1984 and 2017 inclusive. Biological data consists of density estimates of each fish species from each survey (per metre squared) and also the average length of specified species at the end of their first year of growth. Covariate data include habitat quality indicator (River Habitat Survey), climatic variables (Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Oscillation indices), land-use change, river hydrology, water temperature, effluent dilution factor and concentrations of chemical determinands. This dataset was created as larvae and juveniles may be particularly useful indicators and respond differently than older fish to environmental stressors. The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (Grant NE/S000100/2). Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/c904c5f0-7f21-4759-a7d4-c262da230b53

Long term ecological datasets are valuable in providing context and understanding to complex ecological processes that occur over broad temporal scales, and provide a baseline for analysing change. Monitoring of fish populations in UK waterbodies and elsewhere is typically through measuring the length of individual fish caught in surveys. Through this method, the age structure of fish populations can be determined, as well as over winer survival rates and future recruitment success and cohort sizes can be predicted. The larval and juvenile period are when fish are considered most vulnerable to predation, competition, disease and environmental perturbations.

This study presents the first long-term larval and juvenile fish lengths dataset for 67 survey sites over two decades (1999-2018) from the rivers Ancholme, Warwickshire Avon, Don, Trent, and Yorkshire Ouse (including the Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe) in the United Kingdom. These rivers represent a range of topographical and biotopical characteristics. For the majority of this study, surveys were conducted on a monthly or fortnightly basis making both annual and seasonal analyses of size structure, growth and body length possible. Although there is some variation in the sampling frequency and some locations varied throughout the study according to requirements. In total, more than 380,000 larval or juvenile fish of 30 species were measured, likely representing one of the most comprehensive datasets of its type.

Surveys were conducted in river margins, where the velocity was slowest and larval and juvenile fish tend to aggregate. Fish were captured using a 25 x 3 m micromesh (3 mm mesh size) seine net that was set in a rectangle parallel to the bank. This net capture fish as small as 5 mm and is the most appropriate method of catching larvae and juvenile fish, although occasionally some larger adult fish may have also been captured and measured as part of this dataset for completeness. All fish were identified to species and measured to standard length (mm) and released at the point of capture. The exception was the smallest larvae, which were euthanised with an overdose of methanesulphonate (MS-222) and preserved in 4% formalin solution for microscopic examination.

The dataset contains 384,090 rows and 13 columns. Each row corresponds to a single fish that was measured at each site and date. Associated site information (site name, location, area fished (m2) and survey date) is reported for each row. When only a fraction of the catch was processed, the sub-sample size was reflected in the Count column (e.g. when half the sample was processed, the numbers of fish measured or only counted were multiplied by two). This enables accurate densities to be calculated as the total number of both measured and unmeasured fish is recorded.

Description of columns found in the dataset:

Column heading

Column description

Data type

Units

Fish _Catchment

The river catchment/basin location of each fish site

Text

n/a

Fish_River

The river/watercourse location of each fish site.

Text

n/a

Fish_SiteName

The name of each fish site

Text

n/a

Fish_Latitude

The latitude of each fish site (WGS 1984)

Integer

Decimal degrees

Fish_Longitude

The longitude of each fish site (WGS 1984)

Integer

Decimal degrees

Fish_Area

Area of fish site surveyed

Integer

m-2

Fish_SurveyDate

Date fish survey was carried out

Integer

dd/mm/yyyy

Fish_Year

Year fish survey was carried out

Integer

yyyy

Common_Name

The common/vernacular name of each fish taxon recorded in the dataset.

Text

n/a

Latin_Name

The scientific name of each fish taxon recorded in the dataset

Text

n/a

Net_Number

The net number the fish in a given survey were caught on

Integer

n/a

Length_mm

Length of individual fish caught

Integer

mm

Count

Count of fish caught accounting for sub- sampling

Integer

Number of fish

No description is available. Visit https://dataone.org/datasets/d8fd2e824faf27c090886c191c33cb29 for complete metadata about this dataset.

This survey was undertaken by Cefas as part of the International Young Fish Survey, Qtr 3 (FSS: YFS);

Surveys around the British Isles (predominantly the South and East coasts) were completed in late August/early September from 1981 to 2010, to evaluate the recruitment of Sole and Plaice as well collect data on the abundance of small fish. Station, catch, length (all fish species and some crustaceans) and biological data (Sole and Plaice) were collected.

Survey took place between 01/09/1990 and 20/09/1990 on South coast YFS

Equipment used during this survey :

• 1.5 metre push net with tickler chain
• Beam Trawl 2m shrimp net fryma liner 3 chains x

Survey operations were undertaken on 172 stations

51 different species were caught on this survey

The Dutch Demersal Fish Survey (DFS or DYFS) is part of an international inshore survey carried out with shrimp trawls (light beam trawls, 20 mm mesh in cod-end) by the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. The DFS aims at monitoring young flatfish in their nursery grounds as well as brown shrimp in the North Sea coastal zone; hence, it covers all coastal and estuarine areas of the southern North Sea, Belgium up to Southern Denmark. All species are sorted from the catch, fish and brown shrimp are measured and counted, other species are counted. For species of commercial interest biological information is collected following a stratification. A CTD is attached to the net. The Dutch survey area comprises the coastal zone from the border between the Netherlands and Belgium up to Esbjerg (DK) and also includes the Wadden Sea, the Ems-Dollard estuary and the Wester- and Oosterschelde. The Belgium coast and the German Wadden Sea are sampled by Belgium and Germany, respectively. Three Dutch research vessels (RV Isis, RV Stern and RV Luctor -previously Schollevaar-) are involved in the DFS every year in September and October, for 12 weeks in total. The survey is part of the EU Data Collection Framework and internationally coordinated by the ICES working group on beam trawl surveys (WGBEAM).

We developed and tested neural network-based models to recognize and count emigrating juvenile river herring in continuous video. Continuous video was collected from an underwater camera installed at Great Herring Pond in Bourne, Massachusetts (USA) between June and November 2017. Our algorithm extracts video frames to assess presence/absence of fish and count numbers of fish emigrating. We used extracted video frames to assess model performance. Provided datasets include information about extracted frames that were used for model assessment. This data release includes four datasets that were used to test model performance and select the best fitting model. (1) The “Model Evaluation Dataset” includes count and presence/absence classifications for 19,498 video frames that were evaluated by each tested model variation and by human counters. (2) The “Count Evaluation Dataset” includes expert counts for 189 video frames along with outputs for the top 4 models and associated differences in counts. Both the model evaluation dataset and count evaluation dataset also include environmental conditions associated with captured video (time of day, moon phase, cloud cover), that were downloaded from Visual Crossing Weather API (Visual Crossing Corporation, 2023). (3) The “Volunteer Validation Dataset” was used to test volunteer count and classification accuracy compared to expert accuracy and includes 5009 volunteer and expert classifications. Volunteer counts were assessed by participants on an online public participation science website (Zooniverse). (4) The “Expert Validation Dataset” was used to differences in classifications of the same image by two expert observers and includes numerical and categorical classifications for 65 images and 500 fish occurrences.

Irish Groundfish Survey shot and haul stations. The Irish Groundfish Survey covers fisheries trawl stations in the North Atlantic Ocean, Celtic Sea, Irish Sea and Saint Georges Channel around Ireland. The Irish Groundfish Survey has been a two-legged survey taking place each October-December since 2003. Irish Groundfish Survey has involved shot and haul stations at regular sites where fish species are caught and processed on board the Irish research vessel RV Celtic Explorer in the fisheries lab. The primary goal of the Irish Groundfish Survey has been to develop estimates of juvenile abundance for important fish species. Measurements of the abundance of juvenile fish are a critical measure of the health of a stock, serving as an annual indication of recruitment (the number of newly spawned fish which enter the population each year) success or failure. Most importantly, they allow forecasting of future commercial abundance. In addition, the Irish Groundfish Survey has provided data on the distribution and biology of commercial and non-commercial species of ecological interest, as well as hydrographic and environmental observations. When these data are combined with annual recruitment indices they can help identify the possible causes driving year-class success or failure, and allow us to see long-term changes in populations that may have been caused by fishing, pollution, or climate change. The Irish Groundfish Survey feeds into the International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) for international reporting. The Irish Groundfish Survey has been managed by the Fisheries Ecosystem Advisory Services (FEAS) section of the Marine Institute (Ireland). Data complete for each year survey has taken place.

The early stages of marine fishes are probably the most susceptible life stages to any oil spill effects, especially considering the timing overlap between peak reef fish recruitment and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This timing overlap would suggest that reef fish larval and juvenile stages (e.g. red snapper) may have suffered higher mortalities from the recent Gulf oil spill resulting in subsequent year-class failures. The study area was approximately 20-50 km south of Mobile Bay, Alabama, U.S.A., at depths of 20 to 40 m. Small reef habitats (0.3 x 1.2 x 1.2 m) were constructed and secured to the substrate with ground anchors. These “small” reefs have shown very high recruitment of young age-0 and age-1 fishes based on surveys in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Reefs were surveyed for abundance and size estimates of associated reef fish communities with SCUBA visual, video and digital camera surveys. We built 30 reefs in July 2011, and complete fish surveys on all reefs in August-September 2011. We also completed surveys in June 2011 on the reef design that were built in 2010 as part of another project.

No description is available. Visit https://dataone.org/datasets/b3c051a2d84fa7ed40b80a7922f12f39 for complete metadata about this dataset.

This survey was conducted on board the RV Celtic Explorer in 2009 by the Marine Institute (MI) as part of the annual groundfish survey to determine the distribution and abundance of commercial fish around Ireland. The Irish Groundfish Survey (IGFS) forms part of the International Bottom Trawl Survey (IBTS) programme, an international survey effort coordinated by the International Council of the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Each year the survey, taking place in Autumn/Winter, collects demersal trawl and ancillary data in Irish waters to produce relative abundance indices for fisheries management. In particular the survey provides an index of the share of young fish in the stock, which in turn gives an indication of its spawning success. The IGFS contributes to Ireland’s international obligation to supply scientific data that support the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). This survey is a series of demersal sampling trawls at pre-defineds stations. The 2009 survey took place over 3 legs. Leg 1 focused on the northerly ICES Area and took place in late September and early October, while Leg 2 in the western and southern areas was carried out during November/December. In order to make data as comparable as possible, each survey operates under a set of agreed standard protocols. Each tow is 30min long and takes place during daylight hours at 3.5-4 knots. Net geometry and ground contact is monitored and logged. All fish and commercial shellfish are sorted to species level prior to taking lengths and other biological measurements such as age, sex and maturity. The primary purpose of the Irish Groundfish Survey is to develop estimates of juvenile abundances for important commercial fish species. Measurements of the abundance of juvenile fish are a critical measure of the health of a stock, serving as an annual indication of recruitment (the number of newly spawned fish which enter the population each year) success or failure. Most importantly, they allow forecasting of future commercial abundance. In addition, the Irish Groundfish Survey provides data on the distribution and biology of commercial and non-commercial species of ecological interest, as well as hydrographic and environmental observations.

Data collected on this cruise included the following: We conducted a juvenile fish and benthic fish prey survery in the eastern Bering Sea (61 3-meter beam trawls, 64 modified tucker epibenthic plankton sled tows, 54 van veen benthic grab collections).

Over the past few years biologists and other researchers have encountered noticeable fish die-offs, mostly of young salmonid, in various stretches of Little Campbell Creek. The USFWS prepared a summary report of these events titled Frequency and Distribution of Fish Kills in Little Campbell Creek, July - September 2005. One of the most obvious reasons for the fish die-offs is degraded water quality including an increase in turbidity, and there are many reasons for this. Turbidity data was collected and reported in Turbidity Monitoring in Little Campbell Creek, Summer 2005. Some of the most obvious are inputs from the city’s storm water system, stream channelization and its effects, removal of wetland filtering areas, and the impacts of urbanization (building of roads, construction, vegetation removal, increases in impermeable surfaces and the associated run-off of chemicals from various sources, and channeled run-off of storm water into the creek). Another USFWS report, Restoring ecological function and value to aquatic resources in the Little Campbell Creek watershed: Recommendations for the Great Land Trust summarizes the problems and some potential solutions.

The study was designed to assess the strength of the innate linkage of substrate and food in foraging by early juvenile Pallid and Shovelnose Sturgeon and their hybrids and adult Sicklefin and Shoal Chub. The data include information on the fish weights throughout the duration of the experiment as well as observed fish behavior data. Wet weights from fish were recorded to monitor feeding consumption and the behavior data was generated in response to watching the fish during feeding. Information found in the fish weights data table includes the fish name, the tank number, the food treatment given, the light treatment given, the week of the trial, the date when the weight was taken, the substrate material, where food was delivered, and lastly the fish weight in grams. Information found in the fish behavior data table includes the observed behavior of the fish, a numerical identifier given to the observation, the fish name, the week of the experiment, the food treatment given, the light treatment given, the substrate material, where food was delivered, the time in seconds an observed behavior started, the date of the observed behavior, the time the observation period started, and lastly the tank number.

This folder contains data in three parts. The juvenile coho salmon abundance and survival data consists of fish survey data and the associated analysis, including documentation of the analysis code, methods, and protocols used. Habitat survey data consists of both reach-level (~100 meter sections) and continuous (watershed scale) surveys. The summaries item and its contents include summaries produced from fish and habitat surveys conducted in Mason Creek, tributary of the East Fork Lewis River, SW Washington, during summer of 2017.

No description is available. Visit https://dataone.org/datasets/d3d69e54aaf3afccf057179a7bf8fe3c for complete metadata about this dataset.

Abstract

To support sustainable fish food systems and nutrition in sub-Saharan Africa, the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) provided funding to the FAO to support initial project activities in five countries (Sierra Leone, Malawi, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania) with a focus on strengthening women's roles in the small-scale fisheries post-harvest sector. The project conducted a baseline survey as well as a needs assessment and mapping of women's organizations. Three surveys were developed to capture information from various stakeholders:

• Individual/Household level: The baseline study conducted for this project included individual intercept surveys targeting women as actors in small-scale fisheries value chains. The purpose of the survey was to understand both the individual respondent (i.e., the woman) and her household's involvement in fisheries, how they acquire and consume fish, their experiences of food security and dietary practices, and participation in fisheries governance and organizations. Approxtaimely 300 women were surveyed per country. This study was conducted for baseline monitoring and evaluation of the project “Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems”.

• Focus group discussions: Focus group discussions were held in each landing site alongside data collection using other survey instruments. The purpose of the focus group discussions was to elicit qualitative data reflecting the opinions of women from the same fish landing sites on key issues affecting their work, status, and roles in the sector. This included their opinions of discrimination or harassment against women, their voice in decision-making and ability to influence fisheries governance, changes in gender relations over time, and their access to training, facilities, and assets needed to conduct their fisheries activities. This study was conducted for baseline monitoring and evaluation of the project “Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems”.

• Individuals (with policy-level influence in the small-scale fishing sector): The baseline study conducted for this project included key informant interviews with those in policy, programme, or other similar levels of sector influence (e.g., Policy Makers, Government, Projects, Programmes working on social and health interventions in fishing communities). The purpose of the key informant interviews was to understand the opinion of respondents on local the diet and eating patterns of the community, women's empowerment, facilities they believe exist at or are in place and serve fish workers. In addition, the questions sought to gain an understanding of what is already known at decision-making levels of the FAO SSF Guidelines and knowledge of fishing community's capacity building needs and how learning and technological change occurs. This study was conducted for baseline monitoring and evaluation of the project "Empowering women in small-scale fisheries for sustainable food systems".

• Organizational level: The purpose of the survey is to enhance understanding of where women are organized in small-scale fisheries (or 'map' them both geographically and within the value chain) and what their present organizational characteristics, capacities, and needs are. Data were collected and analyzed to recommend interventions to enhance women’s organizational capacities and to work towards greater gender equality in fish value chains. The survey covers organizational-level characteristics (i.e., not individual members) of women’s small-scale fishery organizations (defined as formal or informal organizations whose members and leaders are majority women who work in the small-scale fishing sector). Data collection entailed 3-5 members of one women’s organization meeting and collectively answering the survey questions regarding the characteristics of their organization. The survey included questions about group structure, characteristics, and history as well as participation in the value chain, membership benefits, external linkages, and greatest needs.

Geographic coverage

National coverage of coastal areas of high importance to fisheries, including both inland and marine fisheries (where relevant) and both major and minor water bodies. A sample of coastal regions or districts that met these criteria and represented the diversity of fisheries in the country was chosen (non-random sample).

Analysis unit

Individuals, Households, Focus Groups, Organizations

Universe

• Individual/Household level: Women who work in small-scale fishing value chains (harvest, post-harvest processing or trade).
• Focus groups: Women who work in small-scale fisheries.
• Individuals (with policy-level influence in the small-scale fishing sector): Policy-level actors in the fishing sector. This includes government and non-governmental personnel working in fisheries, environment, or gender and development themes that impact fishing communities.
• Organizational level: Women's small-scale fisheries organizations, whether formally registered or informally operating. This was defined as an organization whose members and leaders are majority women engaged in small-scale fisheries activities (whether harvesting or post-harvest processing and trade).

Kind of data

Sample survey data [ssd]

Sampling procedure

Individual/household level: - Sample size: 300 individuals per country - Selection process: Surveys were conducted as intercept surveys at fish landing sites, markets and within fishing communities. - Stratification: By district and landing site. The target number of surveys per country (300) was divided by the number of landing sites chosen for the study.

Focus groups: - Non-random sample of women chosen opportunistically (based on availability) to participate in a small group, focus group discussions. Typically 2 focus group discussions were held in each district or region where data collection occurred for the larger, baseline assessment of the project.

Individuals (with policy-level influence in the small-scale fishing sector): - Survey sampling for key informant interviews was purposive, selecting individuals who were known to be knowledgeable about relevant policy issues impacting fishing communities that were of interest to the project (e.g., nutrition, gender issues, leadership, decision-making). These individuals were identified based on the expert knowledge of the National Project Coordinator with input from the government and influential local leaders. Approximately 10 key informants were surveyed per country, with 1-3 individuals interviewed per district/region.

Organizational level: - Varied by country, ranging from approximately 40-60 organizations. - Selection Process: This survey was not a random sample or stratified sample of organizations. However, efforts were made to ensure the survey was representative of organizations in each country and the districts chosen for surveying. To ensure this, prior to implementing the survey a combination of existing information on women's fisheries organizations was used (e.g., registries, lists, expert knowledge), and where needed, background data was collected on the number of women's small-scale fisheries groups in each district. After this, background and existing data were collected, we used this estimate of the population or organizations in each district. Based on these estimates of the population of organizations, we applied the sampling protocol (described below) to determine the target number of surveys to be collected in each district. However, surveys were implemented opportunistically in the field with individual organizations that were available and accessible at the time of data collection. Inclusion criteria. To be included in the survey, organizations had to meet the following criteria: a. The group identifies as an organization, either formally registered or informal. b. Membership is majority (more than 50 percent) women. c. Women are an active part of the organization's leadership. d. The majority of group members are engaged in capture fishing and related activities including pre-harvest, processing, and trade of fish or fish products. - The following sampling protocol was applied to the estimated number of women's small-scale fisheries groups in a district (always rounding up to a whole number): Fewer than 7 organizations: do not sample (i.e. survey all groups); - 8-10 organizations: sample 60 percent; - 11-14 organizations: sample 50 percent; - 15-20 organizations: sample 40 percent; - More than 20 organizations: sample 30 percent where possible, 20 percent as needed.

Sampling deviation

At the organizational level, the individual groups selected for the survey were not chosen randomly, instead, they were chosen for interviews based on their availability at the time of data collection and ease of contact.

Mode of data collection

Face-to-face [f2f], Focus Group [foc]

Research instrument

Individual/Household level: - Questionnaire used: Empowering Women in Small Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Systems Individual Questionnaire. - Language: English.

Focus Groups level: - Questionnaire used: Empowering Women in Small Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Systems Focus Groups Discussions Questionnaire. - Language: English.

Key Informants Interview: - Questionnaire used: Baseline KII survey - Language: English

Organizational level: - Questionnaire used: Questionnaire Mapping Assessment Women's ssf Organizations. - Language: English. - Questionnaire Design: The questionnaire was designed based on earlier studies conducted in Tanzania. The first draft of