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Alaska Fisheries Information Network (AKFIN)
The Alaska Fisheries Information Network (AKFIN) is a regional program that consolidates and supports the collection, processing, analysis, and reporting of fisheries statistics for North Pacific and Alaskan fisheries. AKFIN integrates this information into a single data management system using consistent methods and standardized formats. The Network then reports this information on its website, in various publications, and to researchers. The resulting data enables fishery managers, scientists, and associated agencies to supervise fisheries resources more effectively and efficiently.
More specifically, AKFIN reports catch data, harvest and value from commercial fisheries in Alaska using the best available data from the data source agencies. Once data are incorporated into its system, AKFIN reports information from several critical perspectives to analyze impacts of changes in fishery management. These include species, area, gear, vessel, processor, community, and fishery participants by season.
Partners & Beneficiaries
AKFIN also provides specific reports for the fisheries of the United States, and to agencies and councils such as the Pacific Coast Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN), North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission (NPAFC), Pacific Fishery Management Council (PFMC), North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC), and Essential Fish Habitat. These reports have proven to be very useful to each agency for resource management. Data sets and reports are provided under memoranda of agreement to agency analysts, economists, biologists and managers.
The data supplied to AKFIN are provided by a variety of state and federal sources including Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADFG), State of Alaska, Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (CFEC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), and North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC). Published data are screened to protect the confidential and financial status of entities.
Funding
An annual grant awarded by NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to the PSMFC funds the program. These funds support the AKFIN support center and central database, as well as subcontracts to the ADFG for a variety of related tasks.
Additional Information
Visit the Alaska Fisheries Information Network (AKFIN) program website at: www.akfin.org.
For more information contact Bob Ryznar, Program Manager, by email to rryznar@psmfc.org, or call 503.595.3100.