The
State-Federal Cooperative Fishery Statistics Program is a NMFS
Southeastern U.S. program for collection of landings data from
the commercial and recreational fisheries of the region. This
information is used by the states, and the NMFS Southeast Fisheries
Center in determining yields, and by the Southeast Regional Administrator
and Regional Fishery Management Councils to assist them in formulating
Fisheries Management Plans (FMP's). The program is noncompetitive
with funds provided to the states to be used for port agents,
clerical personnel and statistical supervisors involved in the
collection and processing of fisheries data. All data are entered
through user terminals in the states and maintained in the Southeast
Fisheries Science Center's computer system in Miami.
This program was initiated in 1982 by the FY 1982 Congressional
Budget Resolution. Funding is provided to the states through
cooperative agreements that are continued each year under a
multi-year project plan that details project objectives and
scope of work. Cooperative activities must be maintained without
interruption since catches are landed continuously throughout
the year.
