"This paper describes the relational database created for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Sport Groundfish Onboard Sampling Program. The program surveys the charter boat fleet targeting groundfish from seven of Oregon's major ports. The program began as a pilot study in 2001 and became a permanent sampling program in 2003. Through 2012, observers have collected spatially-explicit catch and discard records for 12,377 fishing locations during 997 observed trips. Lengths of discarded fish caught by observed anglers are also recorded to monitor discards. Presented herein is a brief description of the sampling program, an overview of the fully relational database, and quality control methods applied to data through 2012. Data from the new database are governed by confidentiality requirements and are available via permission from ODFW"--Abstract.

Public Domain