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Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN)
Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN)

The Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN) provides timely and accurate data essential for effective fisheries management. The nation’s first regional fisheries data network, PacFIN is a joint Federal and State data collection and information management project. It is funded by a grant from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).

The PacFIN aggregates detailed and summarized state and federal fisheries data to allow fishery managers and associated agencies to track commercial fish catches by area. This helps the states, the Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), and other agencies manage fisheries and fishery resources more effectively. The need for this data has become more critical as the demand on our fisheries has increased.

Partners

Cooperative agency and industry partners supply data from fisheries off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, and British Columbia. These statistics are recorded in the PacFIN central database, which includes fish-ticket and vessel registration data from state fishery agencies in Washington, Oregon and California and species-composition and catch-by-area proportions from port sampling and trawl logbook data systems. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG), and Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) also supply fishery data to PacFIN. The NMFS Northwest Regional Office (NWR) supplies the central database with limited-entry permit data and the NMFS Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC) provides weekly aggregates developed from their tow-by-tow observer database. The Network combines the collected information in order to provide accurate estimates of West Coast commercial catch for all species and for the Alaska groundfish fishery.

Additional Information

Visit the Pacific Information Network (PacFIN) program website at: pacfin.psmfc.org.

For more information contact Bob Ryznar, Program Manager, by email to rryznar@psmfc.org, or call 503.595.3100.

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