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International Council for theExploration of the Sea

ApC.M.1986/D: 19 UStatistics Committee

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PROGRESS REPORT 1985/1988

by

ICES Statistician

TA B L E

Section

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C 0 N T E N T S

Page

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FISHERY STATISTICS

Data Reported . .Adequacy of DataFormat of Reported DataBulletin Statistique . . . . .Discrepancles in the Catch DataModification of STATLANT Data Files

AQUACULTURE STATISTICS

IYFS DATA BASE

ICES COMPUTER FACILITIES

ASSESSMENT WORKING GROUP PROGRAMS AND DATA FILES

THIRTEENTH SESSION OF CWP . . . . . . . . . . . . • . .

CHANGES IN NATIONAL STATISTICAL SYSTEMS

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•Tables 1 - 5 . 7-11

statistics are received andThese are: 1) the datastatistical offices and 2)group meetings by member

FlSHF~Y STATISTlCS

1.1 Data Reported

Two basic sets of fishery catchmaintained by the leES Secretariat.officially reported by the nationalthe data brought to assessment workingcountry scientists.

The official data are reported to ICES on a total of fourseparate forms:

• 1) Pata Form 5 is used forcatches on a stock basisafter the end of the month.

reporting preliminary monthly(fishing areas) within 30 days

2) Special ICES/NEAFC Report of Total Catch of Selected Species(Recommendation 12 Form) is used for reporting preliminary~ catches on a stock basis within 30 days after the endof the year.

3) STATLANT 27A Form is used for reporting final annual catcheson a statistical area basis within 5 months after the end ofthe year.

4) STATLANT 27B Form is used for reporting final monthly catchand fishing effort data on a statistical area basis by gearand vessel type and size within 8 months after the end ofthe year.

The preliminary data from Forms 5 and 12 are intended to be ofuse to the assessment working groups. The STATLANT data [27A andmonthly catches of major species by fishing area from 27B (forthose countries which submit the 27B form)] are published in theannual volumes of Bulletin statistique.

• The catch data brought to assessment working group meetings bymember country scientists may or may not correspond to theofficially-reported statistics of each country. These data arestored in computer files (on a stock basis) for use by the re­spective working groups and are included in the reports of theworking groups and ACFM. In addition, a computerized data file ofthe working group catch figures by country and stock has been setup, although, at the present time, it is not being actively used.

1.2 Adeguacy ot pata

There are two major problems associated with the adequacy of thedata sets of catch statistics: 1) discrepancies between theofficial statistics and those reported and used by member countryscientists in the assessment working groups and 2) lack of

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adherence to the deadlines for reporting both preliminary andfinal statistics.

Very few working groups rely on the officially-reported stati­stics as the sole basis for determining the level of annualcatches for the 90-100 stocks assessed annually. Instead,scientists generally provide "unofficial" estimates of theircountry's catches which are usually, but not always, higher thanthe official statistics. In some cases, the official nationalstatistics may be used, but are then supplemented by thescientific estimates of additional (non-reported, misreported,etc.) catches which, in the working group reports, are frequentlycombined into an "unallocated" category. In other cases, thescientific estimates may be used directly for the variouscountries. These discrepancies do not exist for all ICES membercountries and also are more prevalent for some species than forothers. Table 1 provides a comparison between the official andunofficial catch figures for 1980-1984 for the major stocks inthe leES area where the discrepancies are greatest. The problemhas been most severe for stocks such as mackerel (primarily inthe areas west of the UR), herring in the North Sea, Skagerrakand Kattegat, and west of Scotland and Ireland, and plaice andsole in the North Sea.

Fortunately, the scientists have usually been able to acquireestimates of the "true" catches and these figures have been usedin the assessments. However, in the last several years (e.g.,1985 and 1986), the situation has deteriorated to the point wherescientists have, in some cases, been unable to obtain theirunofficial estimates due to the refusal of fishermen to providethe necessary information on which to base the estimates. Thishas greatly reduced the reliability of the assessments and theresulting management advice provided by ICES. In one case in1986, a working group was unable to perform assessments onseveral important fish stocks because current catch data wereunavailable, and ACFM was forced to postpone its advice untillater in the year when the required information could finally beprovided.

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A related problem associated with catch statistics is theestimation of discards. Although discards are not required to bereported on the STATLANT forms (which are for the landed portionof the catches), they constitute a significant fraction of thecatch of some stocks such as North Sea roundfish and, therefore,need to be accounted for in the assessments. Scientists have, inrecent years, been making progress in the estimation of discards •and including them in the assessment process.

The 'discrepancies between the official and working group catchstatistics for many species and stocks, as well as the existenceof discard estimates not included in the official statistics butused in the assessments, raise the question of the usefulness ofthe official tigures published in Bulletin Statistique.

The second problem associated with the adequacy of the reportedcatch statistics is their coverage and timeliness. Tables 2 and 3indicate the status of the reporting of preliminary catch data(Forms 5 and 12) for 1985. A total of eight countries failed tosubmit Form 5 (Denmark, the Faroe Islands, Finland, Ieeland,Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain) and sevencountries did not submit Form 12 (the Faroe Islands, France,German Democratic Republic, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and

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Sweden). Concerninq timeliness, less than 30% of the Form 5returns were received at the lCES Secretariat on or before thedesiqnated deadline. For those countries submittinq Form 12returns, the majority were received within or close to thedeadline. In order for the preliminary data to be used asintended by the a~ses~ment working qroups, coveraqe andtimeliness have to be improved, particularly coverage.

Table 4 indicates the status of the reporting of final catch dataon STATLANT 27A and 27B forms for 1983-1985. The timeliness ofthe submission for the 27A returns has not been qood, with onlyabout 25% of the countries reporting on time (includinq thesubmission of preliminary 27A returns) during 1983 and 1984 (33%in 1985). Some countries have been more than one year late insubmitting such data. Delays such as these have led tocorrespondinq delays in publishing Bulletin Statistique .

The reporting of STATLANT 27B data has become steadily worse from1983-1985 with fewer countries submitting returns each succeedinqyear. lt raises the question of the future of this data set ifonly a few countries are providinq submissions. The Secretariatwill be preparing areport on the STATLANT 27B data base for theupcoming CWP meetinq.

1.3 Format of Reported Data

Beqinninq with the submission of the 1984 data, the STATLANT 27Bform specified that catches be reported in 100-kilogram units.Some countries actually beqan this practice with the 1983 data,at the request of the leES Secretariat, to avoid the use of a "+"to siqnify catches of less than half a tonne. Since that time,many countries have complied with this request and, in addition,some countries have also reported their 27A data in these units.However, same countries continue to report all catches to thenearest tonne. This dichotomy of procedures has led to problemsat the Secretariat with respect to data entry. Also, instead ofreportinq catches to the nearest 100 kilograms, some countriesreport to the nearest 0.1 tonne, which provides the same level ofinformation but in a sliqhtly different format. This also causessome difficulty with data entry.

The Secretariat requests that the same weiqht unit be adopted andused for both the STATLANT 27A and 27B forms by all countries.The preferred unit would be 0.1 tonne, as this would result inthe least amount of misunderstanding and·confusion .

The Secretariat has urged for several years that member countriessubmit their STATLANT 27B data on magnetic tape. At present, only3-4 countries make use of this capability. lf more countries wereto use maqnetic tape submissions, the data entry workload at theSecretariat could be lightened.

1.4 Bulletin Statistique

Volume 68 of Bulletin statistique (data for 1983) was publishedin March 1986.

A revised issue of Advance Release of Tables 1-6 of BulletinStatistique Volume 69 (data for 1984) was produced anddistributed in June 1986 as C.M.1985/Gen:5 (Revised). This wasdone at the request of the Bureau to provide, until such timewhen all data would be available to permit the publication of

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Volume 69, a more complete set of catch statistics for 1984 thanwas available when the first issue was printed on 16 September1985. Data were lacking from six countries when the first issuewas printed; data were only lacking from Spain when the revisedissue was printed (although the data from Finland, theNetherlands, and Norway were provisional).

V~lume 69 of Bulletin Statistique (data for 1984) will hopefullybe printed by December 1986 or January 1987. At the time thisreport was drafted (B September 1986), final da ta had not yetbeen received from the Netherlands. There will be same slightchanges in the formats of Tables A-L and Table B reflecting theconversion to computerized word processing. In addition, there isa possibility that the available 1982-1984 aquaculture statisticssubmitted by ICES member countries will be included {see Section2).This possibility will be considered and decided by theStatistics Committee at the present Statutory Meeting.

The Advance Release of Tables 1-6 of Bulletin Statistique Volume70 (data for 1985) will be issued as C.M.1986/Cen:5. Data werenot available from Denmark, the Faroe Islands, France, andIreland and the data from Finland, the Netherlands, and Norwaywere preliminary.

1.5 Discrepancies in the Catch Data

Ouring 1985, the Secretariat participated actively with EUROSTATin an attempt to identify and eliminate discrepancies amonqst thecatch data reported by EEC member countries to ICES, EUROSTAT,and FAO. The appropriate corrections which need to be made to theICES data files have been identified and approved by the variousnational statistical offices. However, these corrections have notyet been made because of work priorities in the Secretariat. Oncethis is done, this cooperative effort with EUROSTAT will beextended to non-EEC countries.

1.6 Hodification cf STATLANT Data Files

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There has been discussion within ICES for the past 4-5 yearsconcerninq the desirability and possibility of establishinq a newSTATLANT data base structure which would facilitate access to andretrieval of desired segments of 27A or 279 statistics. Work hasnot progressed prior to now due to work priorities in theSecretariat. However, it was recently decided to proceed withthis project, first to select an appropriate data base either onthe ICES computer or at RECKU (University of Copenhagen Regional •Computer Center) and then to make the necessary changes. Thiswork should be completed this autumn/winter. lt will then beposslble to retrieve specific parts of the data file (e.g., catchof blue whitinq by Norway and the USSR for 1980-1985 in Divisionlla) to create tables for Bulletin Statistique or to accommodaterequests from various individuals, institutes, working groups,and the like. It should also be possible to retrieve selectedportions of the effort da ta base for use by assessment workinggroups.

2 ~UACULAURE STAIISTICS

Aquaculture data have been formally reported to ICES since 1982using the STATLANT 27AQ form. The status of the reporting for1982-1985 is indicated in Iable 5. Five countries [Ireland,Poland, Portugal, UK (Isle of Man), and the USSR] have not

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submitted returns in any of the four years, five other countries[German Democratie Republic, Greenland, the Netherlands, Swedenand UK (N. Ireland)] have reported every year, and the remainingcountries have reported irregularly. As a result, the data basefor aquaeulture production within the ICES area must beeonsidered to be ineomplete. For this reason, these statisticshave not yet been published in Bulletin Statistique, asoriginally intended.

In spite of the ineompleteness of the aquaculture statistics, theSecretariat is now considering publishing the available data for1982-1984 in Volume 69 of Bulletin Statistique. Thisreeommendation - will be eonsidered by the Statisties Committee atthe present Statutory Meeting.

There have been two forms in existence for the past several yearsfor the reporting of aquaculture data in the ICES area: theSTATLANT 27AQ form developed by ICES and the FISHSTAT AQ formintrodueed by FAO in 1985. These two forms have requestedslightly different information, but there has been generalagreement that the necessary information eould be reported toboth ICES and FAO on a single form. There was discussion on thismatter at the 73rd Statutory Meeting by both the Statisties andMarieulture Committees and it was reeommended (C.Res.1985/4:19)that the Statisties Committee consider integrating the two formsand also prepare a glossary of standard definitions. Thisrecommendation has been followed up by eorrespondence withmembers of the Statistics Committee and its Liaison workingGroup, Prof. H. Ackefors of the Mariculture Committee, and Mr M.Robinson of FAO durfng the past year to solieit comments andsuggestions and to arrive at a consensus of opinion on thegeneral format for a single form. The results of this effort willbe eonsidered by the two committees at the present StatutoryMeeting for resolution.

3 IYFS DATA BASE

The development of a centralized data base for results of theInternational Young Fish Survey has been underway at ICESheadquarters since 1983. A SIR (Seientifie Information Retrieval)data base has been created at RECKU and will beeome fullyoperational this autumn. All data for 1983-1985 are now in thesystem, and a final report for the surveys for these years hasbeen presented as C.M.1986/H:73.

4 ICES COMPUTER fACILITIES

In the past year, the computer faeilities at ICES headquartershave been upgraded by the acquisition of additional dise spaeefor the ND-100 for word processing, additional memory and disespaee for the ND-530, a new HP-7550A plotter. four new Notisterminals, 9,600-baud line to RECKU, and the SPSS-X statisticalpaekage.

5 ~SSESSMENT WORKING GROUP PROGRAMS AND DATA FILES

Work will begin this autumn/winter on designing a new computerfile strueture for the data bases used by assessment warkinggroups. The new structure will- accept disaggregated data byquarter, country, fleet, and sex (if necessary). The standardassessment programs (SAP) package will also be expanded andredesigned to aeeept data at the lowest level of detail or at

6

higher levels of aggregation as needed and to provide output atthe desired level. Greater flexibility will be provided in thenew system tor the creation of output files from the variousanalyses in the SAP which can be made available for screendisplay, line printing, plotting, statistical analysis, and/orinput to other analyses in the SAP. The analytical methodspresently in the SAP (e.g., VPA, yield per recruit, prediction)plus other methods which will or may be added to the SAP in thefuture (e.g., separable VPA, VPA tuning procedures, etc.) will bedesigned as compatible but separate sub-routines or modules whichcan bc added as desired to the total package. It is hoped thatthe new'system will be tully developed and operational within 1-2years.

In the short term, the newest version of the separable VPA and asuite of VPA tuning methods have been linked with theconventional VPA on the ICES computer tor use by assessment •working groups.

6 THIRTEENTH SESSION OF CWP

The Thirteenth Session of the Continuing Working Party onAtlantic Fishery Statistics (CWP) will be held trom 11-18February 1987 at FAO headquarters in Rome. A provisional agendafor that meeting has been prepared and will be discussed brieflyat the meeting of the Statistics Committee.

7 CHANGES IN NATIONAL STATISTICAL SYSTEMS

The Secretariat has not been advised of any changes in nationalstatistical systems in 1985/1986.

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~ Comp.lrison between catches (tonnes) reported in Bulletin Statistiaue andthose used by assessment working groups (excluding estimates of discards)for seleeted stocks in the ICES area.

Stock Souree 1980 1981 1982 1983 19842

Herring Bull.stat. 17 ,195 45,614 60,521 210,892 251,235(Sub-area IV + Div. VIId) W.G. 60,994 140,972 235,925 317,124 317,263

Herring Bull.Stat. 78,422 113,070 106,162 121,351 144,455(Div. lIla) W.G. 84,245 171,336 146,800 197,996 204,742

Herring BulI.Stat.' 8,950 12,510 6,646 9,092 9,431(Divs. VIIg-j) W.G. 9,253 16,835 9,501 22,187 19,718

• Herring Bull.Stat. 26,487 76,232 95,721 89,101 87,545(Divs. VIa + VIIb,c) W.G. 30,430 76,342 111,569 96,542 102,554

Norway pout Bull.Stat. 522,909 304,055 468,343 499,336 398,779(Sub-area IV) W.G. 471,100 235,700 359,700 422,900 354,900

Sandeel BuII.St.at. 728,147 587,590 627,352 548,223 693,961(Sub-area IV) W.G. 728,500 568,600 610,900 536,500 668,500

Sprat Bull.Stat. 407,616 314,255 298,028 197,800 132,658(Sub-area IV) W.G. 323,400 209,100 152,700 88,200 77,200

Cod Bull. Stat. 248,630 287,012 255,800 237 ,059 197,148(Sub-area IV) W.G. 264,000 301,000 256,000 229,000 206,000

Haddock BuII.St.at. 104,391 133,076 174,450 164,553 133,901(Sub-area IV) W.G. 122,000 147,000 185,000 168,000 138,000

Whiting Bull. Stat. 109,412 96,409 100,004 99,149 98,958(Sub-arca IV) W.G. 138,000 146,000 105,000 104,000 99,000

Saithe Bull.Stat. 123,083 125,670 159,078 159,322 162,101(Sub-area IV + Div. lIla) W.G. 123,000 127,000 169,000 173,000 198,000

Sole Bull. Stat. 15,677 14,604 21,467 19,957 18,940(Sub-area IV) W.G. 15,807 15,405 21,579 24,939 26,605

Plaiee Bull.Stat. 101,248 95,322 112,935 102,666 115,903(Sub-area IV) W.G . 139,951 139,747 154,551 144,035 156,147

• Hake Bull.Stat. 61,547 61,071 57,754 64,909 76,738(Sub-areas IV,VI,VII-IX) W.G. 76,114 70,363 73,833 82,204 84,320

Sardine Bull. Stat. J 197,929 224,135 210,991 168,397 210,565(Divs. VlIIc +IXa) W.G. 191,682 214,133 204,504 181,149 202,686

Maekerel Bull.Stat. 4 615,474 586,689 570,888 521,498 608,631(Divs. IIa,IIIa,Vllla,b + W.G. 689,719 685,348 655,891 645,735 600,534Sub-areas IV,VI,VII)

Blue whiting Bull.Stat.1,098,752 683,204 524,180 526,126 597,958(All areas) W.G. 1,122,564 909,557 620,890 568,033 623,548

~Divisions VIIg-k.J4Sub-areas VIII+IX.

1984 Netherlands preliminary. Ineludes all of Sub-area VIII.

I.illU Returns of Data Form 5. Monthly catch statistics for 1985 as of 18 September 1986(Deadline: within 30 days of the end of each montt,).

CIl

Country Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Belgium

Denmark

Faroe Islands

Finland

France

German Dem. Rep.

Germany. Fed. Rep.

Greenland

Ieeland

Ireland

Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom

USSR

..--- 22.05.85 --- 01.07.85 22.07.85 15.08.85 ..--- 29.11.85-

11.03.85 18.03.85 29.04.85 04.06.85 08.07.85 14.08.8503.09.85 27.09.85 21.10.85 29.11.8502.01.86 30.01.86

16.03.85 11.04.85 13.05.8504.06.85 10.07.85 - 29.08.85 --+ ..- 02.01.85 --+ - 13.01.86 --+ 06.02.86

11.03.85 18.03.85 22.05.85 28.05.85 18.06.85 17.07.85 29.08.85 16.09.85 21.10.85 18.11.85 19.12.8503.02.86

----------18.10.85 ..--- 21.11.85-

08.03.85 11.04.8506.05.85 30.05.85 01.07.85 05.08.85 09.09.8503.10.8504.11.8502.12.85"- 10.02.86--+

18.07.8509.08.85 30.09.85 18.10.85 03.02.86 - 05.02.86

14.03.85 15.04.8506.06.85 29.07.8509.08.8502.09.85 18.10.8526.11.85 23.12.85 23.01.86 20.02.86 08.04.86

25.02.85 19.03.8506.04.85 19.06.85 16.07.85 19.08.8520.09.8525.10.85 21.11.85 23.12.85 27.01.86

21.02.85 15.04.85 29.05.85 03.06.85 26.06.85 19.07.85 10.09.85 30.09.8501.11.8526.11.8523.12.8503.02.86

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Table 3 Returns of the Special ICES/NEAFCReport of Total Catch of SelectedSpecies 1985 (Recommendation 12) asof 18 September 1986 (Deadline: 1February 1986).

Country Date received

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BelgiumDenmarkFaroe IslandsFinlandFranceGerman Democratic RepublicFederal Republic of GermanyGreenlandIcelandIrelandNetherlandsNorwayPolandPortugalSpainSwedenUK (England & Wales)UK (Isle of Man)UK (Northern Ireland)UK (Scotland)USSR

24.02.8607.04.86

03.02.86

17.02.8631.01.8611.02.8618.03.86

10.02.8605.02.86

18.02.8629.01.8623.01.8613.02.8603.02.86

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Iable 4 Returns of SIAILANI 27A (Deadline: 31 May) and 278 (Deadline: 31August) Forms (as of September 1986).

Country1983

STAILANI 27A

1984 1985 1983

SIAILANI 27B

1984 1985

02.05.86 16.04.85

15.08.86' 28.05.85

31.07.86 ' 13.11.84

31.10.84

02.05.86' 21.08.85

25.08.86

01.09.86

09.09.86

07.08.86

04.09.86

04.08.86

04.07._

16.08.85

24.09.85

30.08.85

31.07.86

28.10.85

09.09.85

04.07.85

05.08.85

30.07.85

05.08.86

13.10.84

17.07.84

18.09.84

20.08.84

31.07.84

27.08.84

30.07.84

17.06.86

21.07.86

23.06.86

20.05.86'11.08.86

19.06.86

10.04.86

12.05.86

11.06.86

29.05.86

02.06.86

07.08.86

01.04.86'04.09.86

24.06.86

11.07.85'15.08.86

17.06.85

29.07.85

23.06.86

29.05.85 '17.09.85

13.09.85

17.04.85

28.05.85

10.06.85

21.05.85

20.05.85

28.10.85

14.10.85'

06.06.85

03.04.86

15.05.86

05.08.85'26.06.86

01.10.85

19.06.85

30.07.85

03.07.85

12.06.84

05.07.84

28.09.84

13.08.84'28.09.84

27.08.84

21.05.84

27.08.84

17.04.84'30.07.84

29.05.84

31.10.84

04.06.841

25.07.85

24.08.84'28.0~.85

12.06.84

30.08.84

23.11.84

04.09.84'09.05.85

03.09.84

30.04.84

27.08.84

06.08.84

25.05.84

Norway

Iceland

Ireland

Nethcr1ands

UR (Engl.& Wales)

UR (Isle of Man)

UR (N. Ireland)

UR (Scotland)

USSR

France

German Dcm.Rep.

Gcrmany. Fed.Rep.

Greenland

Poland

Portugal

Spain

Sweden

Belgium

Denmark

Faroe Islands

Finland

, Prcliminary.

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Table 5 Returns of STATLANT 27AQ as of September 1986 (Dead­line: 30 June).

Country 1982 1983 1984 1985

Belgium 06.06.85'

Denmark 12.03.84'

Faroe Islands 13.02.84 17.06.85Finland 15.06.83 11.01.85 10.09.86

France 12.07.83' 27.08.66

• German Dern.Rep . 14.10.63 19.06.65 19.06.85 11.06.86Gerrnany. Fed.Rep. 05.03.64'

Greenland 04.07.83' 30.07.84' 03.06.85' 28.04.86'

Ieeland 30.06.83 05.12.84 21.03.85

Ireland

Netherlands 02.08.83 29.10.84 30.10.85 13.02.86Norway 10.08.83 25.09.85 25.09.852

Poland

Portugal

Spain 30.06.63

Sweden 08.06.83 22.04.85 20.12.65 21.06.86'

UK (Engl.& Wales) 15.08.83 13.09.842 28.10.852

UK (Isle of Man)

UK (N. Ireland) 27.06.83 29.05.64 26.05.85 12.05.86UK (Scotland) 13.06.83 10.06.85 11.06.86USSR

'NO data available.

2prelirninary .

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