Aggregated Longline Data Format

Aggregate Catch and Effort data for longline are to be submitted for data aggregated to the level of: year, month, flag, fleet, gear, and 5x5 degree cell and hooks between floats.

Aggregate data represent raised logbook catches and should represent total annual catch and effort within the WCPFC Convention Area, for a given fleet.

The effort information includes:

  • number of hooks (in hundreds)
  • number of sets
  • number of fishing days
  • average number of hooks between floats

The catch information includes:

  • catch in weight (mt) and number of individuals (n)
  • an indicator to note whether the catch was discarded or not

Field formatting details

  • Year must be reported as YYYY.
  • Month must be reported as mm (01 to 12).
  • Latitude and longitude must be reported in whole degrees, floored by 5° increments (e.g., 24° reported as 20°, and -137° reported as -140°). The valid range is -180 to 175 for longitude and -90 to 85 for latitude.
  • Catches must be reported in metric tonnes (mt), with max 3 decimals, and number of individuals (n), which must be whole values.
  • Species code must be FAO standard Species Code (3 characters).
    • E.g. YFT - Yellowfin Tuna or ALB - Albacore Tuna.
    • See Sci-Data for key species to be reported.

Table documents format (multiple tables)

Aggregated data are structured in two interconnected levels: Effort and Catch. In this format, separate tables are used for each data level to maintain clarity and reduce redundancy. Each table is connected using a unique identifier, which is set at Effort level: effort_id and referenced at Catch level. These identifiers must be numeric or alphanumeric and unique within the set of files.

👉 Data providers can also download ready-to-use CSV data templates for each level (catch and effort).

CSV Data Templates

Data format details (with examples)

Rows in the Effort table represent a fishing operation, identified by year, month, latitude and longitude. The Catch table contains the species-specific catch details for each fishing operation, linked by the effort_id.

Example document at effort level

effort_idyearmonthflag_codefleet_codelatitudelongitudehooks_bt_floathundred_hooks_ndays_nsets_n
EFF00120251JPJP-5165195240123210
EFF00220252JPJP-1516019524082110

Field descriptions at effort level

Field nameTypeFormatDescriptionMandatory
effort_idTextUnique identifierUnique identifier for the fishing effortYes
yearNumber4 digit numberYear of reported effortYes
monthNumber1-2 digit numberMonth of reported effortYes
flag_codeText2 letter flag-state code (UN/LOCODE)Authorized flag stateYes
fleet_codeText2 letter code for sub-fleet (see fleet reference table)Sub-fleet codeNo
latitudeNumber-90 to 85Latitude in whole degrees (by 5° increments)Yes
longitudeNumber-180 to 175Longitude in whole degrees (by 5° increments)Yes
hooks_bt_floatNumber0 to 100Average number of hooks between floats, rounded to the nearest whole numberNo
hundred_hooks_nNumberIntegerNumber of hooks used in the fishing operation (in hundreds)Yes
days_nNumberIntegerNumber of fishing daysYes
sets_nNumberIntegerNumber of setsYes

Example document at catch level

effort_idsp_codesp_nsp_mtis_discarded
EFF001YFT37013.00
EFF001BET30015.20
EFF001FAL221
EFF002BET30015.20

Field descriptions at catch level

Field nameTypeFormatDescriptionMandatory
effort_idTextUnique identifierUnique identifier for the fishing effortYes
sp_codeTextSpecies codeCode for the species caughtYes
sp_nNumberWhole numberNumber of individuals caughtYes
sp_mtNumberDecimalWeight of individuals caught (in metric tonnes)Yes
is_discardedNumber0 or 1Indicator of whether the catch was discarded (1) or retained (0)Yes

Example document at vessel level

flag_codefleet_codeyearmonthlatitudelongituden_vessels
JPJP20251-516514

Field descriptions at vessel level

Field nameTypeFormatDescriptionMandatory
flag_codeText2-letter flag-state code (UN/LOCODE)Authorized flag of the reporting CCMYes
fleet_codeText2-letter code for sub-fleet (see Fleet reference table)Sub-fleet codeNo
yearNumber4-digit numberYear of reported vessel activityYes
monthNumber1–2 digit numberMonth of reported vessel activityYes
latitudeNumberWhole degrees (-90 to +89)Latitude of the southwest corner of the 5°x5° spatial cellYes
longitudeNumberWhole degrees (-180 to +179)Longitude of the southwest corner of the 5°x5° spatial cellYes
n_vesselsNumberIntegerNumber of active longline vessels operating in that grid cell and time periodYes

Notes:

  • The Vessel table provides contextual information on longline fleet distribution and fishing capacity.
  • One record per combination of year, month, flag, fleet, and 5°x5° grid cell.
  • Coordinates refer to the southwest corner of each 5°x5° spatial cell.
  • This dataset complements Effort and Catch tables, helping interpret spatial patterns in longline fishing activity.
  • All counts represent active vessels, not total registered vessels.

References

Reference Table 1: List of Fleets

country_codefleet_codegear_codeis_activeocean_codesdescription
AONULLO1AOAO Other
AUNULLO1SP,SX,WPAustralia Other
AUNULLP1WX,SP,SX,WPAustralia pole-and-line
AUNULLT1WX,SP,SX,WPAustralia troll
AUAFS1WX,SP,SX,WPAustralia purse seine, inside the Australian Fishing Zone
AUAUL1WX,SP,SX,WPAustralia domestic and chartered longline
AUEXS1WX,SP,SX,WPAustralia distant-water purse seine
AUJVL1WX,SP,SX,WPAustralian joint-venture Longline
BZNULLL1SP,SX,WPBelize Longline
CANULLS1SP,NP,WPCanadian Purse seine
CANULLT1NP,NXCanada troll
CKNULLL1WX,SP,SX,WPCook Islands longline
CKNULLO1WX,SP,SX,WPCook Islands Artisanal
CKNULLS1WX,WPCook Islands purse seine
CNNULLL1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPChina offshore and distant-water longline
CNNULLS1WX,WPChina purse seine
CNDWL1SP,NP,NX,SXChina distant-water longline
ECNULLS1WX,EP,WPEcuador Purse seine
EPNULLL1SP,NP,EPEP Longline
EPNULLO1EPEP Other
EPNULLP1EPEP Pole and line
EPNULLS1EPEP Seiner
EPNULLT1SP,NP,EPEP Troll
ESNULLL1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPEU - Spanish Longline
ESNULLS1WX,WPEU - Spanish purse seine
FJNULLL1WX,SP,SX,WPFiji longline
FJNULLO1WX,SP,SX,WPFiji Artisanal Tuna Fisheries
FJNULLP1WX,SP,SX,WPFiji pole-and-line
FMNULLL1WX,SP,NP,NX,SX,WPFederated States of Micronesia longline
FMNULLS1WX,WPFederated States of Micronesia purse seine
GUNULLL1NP,NX,WPGuam longline
IDNULLG1WX,SP,SX,WPIndonesia gillnet
IDNULLH1WX,SP,SX,WPIndonesia handline (large-fish)
IDNULLK1WX,SP,SX,WPIndonesia small-fish hook-and-line
IDNULLL1WX,SP,SX,WPIndonesia longline
IDNULLO1WX,SP,SX,WPIndonesia unclassified
IDNULLP1WX,SP,SX,WPIndonesia pole-and-line
IDNULLT1WX,SP,SX,WPIndonesia troll
IDDWS1WX,WPIndonesia distant-water purse seine
IDIDS1WX,WPIndonesia domestic purse seine
IONULLO1IOIO Other
JPNULLG1WX,SP,NP,NX,SX,WPJapan drift gillnet
JPNULLN1WX,SP,NP,WPJapanese Gillnet
JPNULLO1WX,NP,NX,WPJapanese Other
JPNULLT1WX,NP,NX,WPJapanese Troll
JPCSL1WX,NP,NX,WPJapan coastal fleet longline
JPCSP1WX,NP,NX,WPJapan coastal fleet pole-and-line
JPCSS1WX,NP,NX,WPJapan coastal fleet purse seine
JPDWP1WX,SP,NP,NX,WPJapan offshore and distant water pole-and-line
JPDWS1WX,SP,NP,NX,WPJapan offshore and distant-water purse seine
JPJPL1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPJapan offshore and distant water longline
KINULLL1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPKiribati longline
KINULLO1SP,NX,WPKiribati Artisanal
KINULLP1WX,NP,NX,WPKiribati pole-and-line
KINULLS1WX,NX,WPKiribati purse seine
KRNULLG1WX,SP,NP,NX,SX,WPKorea drift gillnet
KRNULLL1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPKorea longline
KRNULLS1WX,WPKorea purse seine
MHNULLL1WX,NP,NX,WPMarshall Islands longline
MHNULLS1WX,NX,WPMarshall Islands purse seine
MXNULLO1WPMexico Other
MXNULLS1WX,WPMexico purse seine
NCNULLL1WX,SP,SX,WPNew Caledonia longline
NCNULLP1WX,SP,SX,WPNew Caledonia pole-and-line
NINULLS1WPNicaragua purse seine
NPNULLL1SP,NPNP Longline
NPNULLT1SP,NPNP Troll
NRNULLL1NP,NX,WPNauru longline
NRNULLO1WX,SP,NX,WPNauru Artisanal Tuna Fisheries
NRNULLS1WX,NX,WPNauru purse seine
NUNULLL1SP,SX,WPNiue longline
NUNULLO1WX,SP,SX,WPNiue Artisanal
NZNULLL1WX,SP,SX,WPNew Zealand longline
NZNULLO1SP,SX,WPNew Zealand Other
NZNULLP1WX,SP,SX,WPNew Zealand pole-and-line
NZNULLS1WX,WPNew Zealand purse seine
NZNULLT1WX,SP,SX,WPNew Zealand troll
PANULLS1WPPanama Purse seine
PFNULLL1WX,SP,SXFrench Polynesia longline
PFNULLP1SP,SXFrench Polynesia pole-and-line
PFNULLT1WX,SP,SX,WPFrench Polynesia troll
PFO1WX,SP,SX,EP,WPFrench Polynesia Other
PGNULLL1WX,SP,SX,WPPapua New Guinea longline
PGNULLP1WX,SP,SX,WPPapua New Guinea pole-and-line
PGNULLS1WX,SX,WPPapua New Guinea purse seine
PHNULLG1SP,NP,WPPhilippines gillnet
PHNULLH1WX,NP,NX,WPPhilippines handline (large-fish)
PHNULLK1NP,NX,WPPhilippines handline (small-fish)
PHNULLL1WX,NP,NX,WPPhilippines domestic longline
PHNULLO1NP,NX,WPPhilippines artisanal gears (not specified)
PHNULLR1WX,NP,NX,WPPhilippines ringnet
PHDWS1WX,WPPhilippines distant-water purse seine
PHPHS1WX,NX,WPPhilippines domestic purse seine
PTNULLL1SP,SX,WPEU - Portuguese Longline
PWNULLL1WX,NP,NX,WPPalau longline
PWNULLP1WX,NP,NX,WPPalau pole-and-line
SBNULLL1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPSolomon Islands longline
SBNULLP1WX,SP,SX,WPSolomon Islands pole-and-line
SBNULLS1WX,SX,WPSolomon Islands purse seine
SNNULLL1SP,NP,NX,WPSenegal Longline
SUNULLL1SP,NP,NX,WPSoviet Union longline
SUNULLS1WX,WPRussia purse seine
SVNULLS1WPEl Salvador Purse seine
TKNULLO1WX,SP,SX,WPTokelau Artisanal Tuna Fisheries
TONULLL1WX,SP,SX,WPTonga longline
TONULLO1WX,SP,SX,NX,WPTonga Artisanal Tuna Fisheries
TVNULLL1WX,SP,SX,WPTuvalu longline
TVNULLO1WX,SP,SX,WPTuvalu Artisanal Tuna Fisheries
TVNULLP1WX,SP,SX,WPTuvalu pole-and-line
TVNULLS1WX,WPTuvalu Purse seine
TWNULLG1SP,NP,NX,SX,WPChinese Taipei drift gillnet
TWNULLO1NP,NX,WPChinese Taipei Other
TWNULLR1WX,WPChinese Taipei domestic SEINE
TWNULLS1WX,WPChinese Taipei purse seine
TWDWL1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPChinese Taipei distant-water longline
TWODL1NP,NXChinese Taipei offshore domestic longline (REDUNDANT -STLL)
TWOSL1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPChinese Taipei small-scale Longline (STLL)
USNULLG1SP,NPUnited States of America Gillnet
USNULLO1WPUnited States of America (Sports fishery)
USNULLO1WPUnited States of America (Unclassified)
USNULLP1SP,NP,NX,WPUnited States of America Pole and line (Albacore)
USNULLS1WX,WPUnited States of America purse seine
USNULLT1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPUnited States of America Troll (Tropical)
USNULLT1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPUnited States of America (Albacore) troll
USASL1WX,SP,NP,SX,NX,WPAmerican Samoa longline
USAST1WX,SP,SX,NX,WPAmerican Samoa (US) Troll
USGUL1WX,NP,NX,WPGuam (US) Longline
USGUT1WX,SP,SX,NX,WPGuam (US) Troll
USHWH1WX,NP,NX,WPHawaii (US) Handline
USHWL1WX,SP,NP,NX,WPUnited States of America longline (Hawaii)
USHWP1SP,NP,NX,WPHawaii pole-and-line
USHWT1WX,NP,SX,NX,WPHawaii (US) Troll
USHWT1SP,NX,SX,WPHawaii (US) Troll and Handline
USMPL1WX,NP,NX,WPNorthern Marianas Islands (US) Longline
USMPT1WX,SP,SX,NX,WPNorthern Mariana Islands (US) troll
USUSL1WX,SP,NP,NX,WPUnited States of America longline
VNNULLG1WX,NP,NX,WPVietnamese Gillnet
VNNULLH1WX,NP,NX,WPVietnamese Handline
VNNULLL1WX,NP,NX,WPVietnamese Longline
VNNULLS1WX,NP,NX,WPVietnamese Purse seine
VUNULLL1WX,SP,NP,SX,NXVanuatu longline
VUNULLO1WX,SP,SX,WPVanuatu Artisanal Tuna Fisheries
VUNULLS1WX,WPVanuatu purse seine
WFNULLL1WX,SP,SX,WPWallis and Futuna Longline
WFNULLO1WXWallis and Futuna artisanal
WFNULLT1WX,SP,SX,WPWallis and Futuna Troll
WNNULLL1SP,NPNorth Western Pacific longline
WNNULLP1North Western Pacific pole-and-line
WNNULLT1SP,NPNorth Western Pacific troll
WPNULLL1SP,NP,EPWP Longline
WPNULLO1EPWP Other
WPNULLP1EPWP Pole and line
WPNULLS1EPWP Purse Seine
WSNULLL1WX,SP,SX,WPSamoa longline