Annual Catch Estimates Data Fields Format
Document description
Annual Catch Estimates (ACE) data refer to the total catch estimates by flag, fleet, year, gear, and species. This data submission is arguably the most simple; however, there is complexity relative to reporting the appropriate subset of species for each ocean region, as detailed in the Sci-Data. In addition, for flag-states that have multiple fleets, the submission complexity increases. Please refer to vessels and fleet page for more details on existing fleet definitions - noting that for many flag-states, there are not sub-fleets, and therefore the fleet code would be null.
Fleets are generally defined based on characteristics of fishing operations and are used when grouping similar vessels or fleets within stock assessment models. Refer to Fleet reference table for the list of fleets.
For any queries/clarifications that are related to the data standards given below, please refer to this list of contacts:
👉 Data providers can also download ready-to-use CSV data template for Annual Catch Estimates (ACE).
CSV Data Templates
Data format details
- Decimal values should use a decimal point (.) to indicate the decimal value, and commas (,) should be omitted.
Fields (with example data)
| year | gear_code | flag_code | fleet_code | ocean_code | sp_code | retain_mt | discard_mt | comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | L | JP | CS | WX | SKJ | 1200.1 | 0.2 | example line |
Field descriptions
Table A1: Description of ACE reporting fields in the Excel template, and how they map to the SciData.
| Field name | Type | Format | Description | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| year | Number | 4 digit number | Year of reported catches | Yes |
| gear_code | String | Single letter gear code (see gear reference table) | Fishing gear type associated with catches | Yes |
| flag_code | String | 2 letter flag-state code (UN/LOCODE) | Authorized flag state | Yes |
| fleet_code | String | 2 letter code for sub-fleet (see fleet reference table) | Sub-fleet code | No |
| ocean_code | String | 2 letter ocean code (see ocean reference tables) | Ocean sub-area based on SciData reporting requirements | Yes |
| sp_code | String | 3 letter FAO species code (see Sci-Data for key species) | Species code associated with catch estimates | Yes |
| retain_mt | Number | Decimal | Metric tonnes of retained catch | Yes |
| discard_mt | Number | Decimal | Metric tonnes of discarded catch | Yes |
| comments | String | Additional comments | No |
Notes:
- The boundary between “western” and “eastern” Pacific areas is defined at 150° W.
- “WN” (Western Pacific – Northern Hemisphere) refers to waters west of 150° W and north of the equator.
- “WS” (Western Pacific – Southern Hemisphere) refers to waters west of 150° W and south of the equator.
References
Reference Table 1: Areas listing
| ocean_code | ocean | notes |
|---|---|---|
| EP | EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN | Pacific Ocean east of 150W |
| NP | NORTH PACIFIC | Pacific Ocean north of equator |
| NX | WCPFC-SA North of the Equator | |
| SP | SOUTH PACIFIC | Pacific Ocean south of the equator |
| SX | WCPFC-SA South of the Equator | |
| WP | WESTERN PACIFIC OCEAN | Pacific Ocean west of 150W |
| WX | WCFPC Statistical Area (SA) | |
| OV | WCPFC-IATTC overlap area | WCPFC area east of 150W |
Reference Table 2: Species Listing
| FAO Code | Common Name | Scientific Name |
|---|---|---|
| ALB | albacore tuna | Thunnus alalunga |
| BET | bigeye tuna | Thunnus obesus |
| SKJ | skipjack tuna | Katsuwonus pelamis |
| YFT | yellowfin tuna | Thunnus albacares |
| MLS | striped marlin | Tetrapturus audax |
| BUM | blue marlin | Makaira mazara |
| BLM | black marlin | Makaira indica |
| SWO | swordfish | Xiphias gladius |
| SSP | shortbill spearfish | Tetrapturus angustirostris |
| SFA | sailfish | Istiophorus platypterus |
| BSH | blue shark | Prionace glauca |
| FAL | silky shark | Carcharhinus falciformis |
| OCS | oceanic whitetip shark | Carcharhinus longimanus |
| MAK | mako sharks | Isurus spp. |
| SMA | shortfin mako | Isurus oxyrinchus |
| LMA | longfin mako | Isurus paucus |
| THR | thresher sharks | Alopias spp. |
| ALV | thresher shark (vulpinus) | Alopias vulpinus |
| PTH | pelagic thresher | Alopias pelagicus |
| BTH | bigeye thresher | Alopias superciliosus |
| POR | porbeagle shark | Lamna nasus |
| SPN | hammerhead sharks nei | Sphyrna spp. |
| SPK | great hammerhead | Sphyrna mokarran |
| SPL | scalloped hammerhead | Sphyrna lewini |
| SPZ | smooth hammerhead | Sphyrna zygaena |
| SPQ | smalleye hammerhead | Sphyrna tudes |
| EUB | winghead shark | Eusphyra blochii |
| RHN | whale shark | Rhincodon typus |
| PBF | Pacific bluefin tuna | Thunnus orientalis |
Reference Table 3: Vessel gear listing
| gear_code | gear_desc |
|---|---|
| G | Drift Gillnet |
| H | Handline (large fish) |
| K | Handline (small fish) |
| L | Longline |
| N | Gillnet |
| O | Other (including artisanal troll) |
| P | Pole-and-line |
| R | Ringnet |
| S | Purse seine |
| T | Troll (albacore) |
Reference Table 4: List of Fleets
| country_code | fleet_code | gear_code | is_active | ocean_codes | description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU | AF | S | 1 | WX,SP,SX,WP | Australia purse seine, inside the Australian Fishing Zone |
| AU | AU | L | 1 | WX,SP,SX,WP | Australia domestic and chartered longline |
| AU | EX | S | 1 | WX,SP,SX,WP | Australia distant-water purse seine |
| AU | JV | L | 0 | WX,SP,SX,WP | Australian joint-venture Longline |
| CN | DW | L | 1 | SP,NP,NX,SX | China distant-water longline |
| ID | DW | S | 1 | WX,WP | Indonesia distant-water purse seine |
| ID | ID | S | 1 | WX,WP | Indonesia domestic purse seine |
| JP | CS | L | 1 | WX,NP,NX,WP | Japan coastal fleet longline |
| JP | CS | P | 1 | WX,NP,NX,WP | Japan coastal fleet pole-and-line |
| JP | CS | S | 1 | WX,NP,NX,WP | Japan coastal fleet purse seine |
| JP | DW | P | 1 | WX,SP,NP,NX,WP | Japan offshore and distant water pole-and-line |
| JP | DW | S | 1 | WX,SP,NP,NX,WP | Japan offshore and distant-water purse seine |
| JP | JP | L | 1 | WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WP | Japan offshore and distant water longline |
| PH | DW | S | 1 | WX,WP | Philippines distant-water purse seine |
| PH | PH | S | 1 | WX,NX,WP | Philippines domestic purse seine |
| TW | DW | L | 1 | WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WP | Chinese Taipei distant-water longline |
| TW | OD | L | 0 | NP,NX | Chinese Taipei offshore domestic longline (REDUNDANT -STLL) |
| TW | OS | L | 1 | WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WP | Chinese Taipei small-scale Longline (STLL) |
| US | AS | L | 1 | WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WP | American Samoa longline |
| US | AS | T | 1 | WX,SP,SX,NX,WP | American Samoa (US) Troll |
| US | GU | L | 1 | WX,NP,NX,WP | Guam (US) Longline |
| US | GU | T | 1 | WX,SP,SX,NX,WP | Guam (US) Troll |
| US | HW | H | 1 | WX,NP,NX,WP | Hawaii (US) Handline |
| US | HW | L | 1 | WX,SP,NP,NX,WP | United States of America longline (Hawaii) |
| US | HW | P | 1 | SP,NP,NX,WP | Hawaii pole-and-line |
| US | HW | T | 1 | WX,NP,SX,NX,WP | Hawaii (US) Troll |
| US | HW | T | 1 | SP,NX,SX,WP | Hawaii (US) Troll and Handline |
| US | MP | L | 1 | WX,NP,NX,WP | Northern Marianas Islands (US) Longline |
| US | MP | T | 1 | WX,SP,SX,NX,WP | Northern Mariana Islands (US) troll |
| US | US | L | 1 | WX,SP,NP,NX,WP | United States of America longline |