Fangstdata

Fangstdata refers to data collected about fishing catches and related effort. In fisheries science and management, it covers information such as species composition, catch quantity and weight, value, gear type, fishing area, date and time, and sometimes discard figures. The term is used in Nordic and international contexts to describe data that support stock assessment, policy decisions, and industry reporting.

Data are gathered from multiple sources, including vessel logbooks, dealer and landing records, onboard observers, and, increasingly, electronic reporting and monitoring systems. In some regions, automatic data collection and electronic monitoring provide near real-time or near-real-time data streams. The combination of catch, effort, and location information enables researchers and managers to estimate stock abundance, evaluate fishing pressure, and assess ecosystem impacts.

Fangstdata typically includes standardized fields such as species codes, units (kilograms or tonnes), timestamps, geographic area codes, and gear classifications. Data quality is a central concern, with issues like underreporting, misreporting, misclassification, and incomplete coverage in small-scale or artisanal fisheries posing challenges. Privacy and confidentiality considerations often lead to data being aggregated or restricted at the vessel or fleet level.

Uses of fangstdata include informing stock assessments and quota setting, monitoring compliance with regulations, evaluating management measures, and supporting scientific research on population dynamics and ecosystem effects. International and national bodies—such as regional fisheries management organizations, national statistics agencies, and international organizations—collect and publish catch data, aiming to improve transparency, comparability, and policy effectiveness while balancing data protection and competitive concerns.