2014-03-05

Updated: Changes to the text

The European Commission’s Data Collection Framework (DCF) establishes a European Community framework for the collection, management and use of data in the fisheries sector and support for scientific advice regarding the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). It seeks to provide scientists and others responsible for making decisions on the management of fisheries with the information they need. One significant area of the DCF is the setting out of the scientific data that are needed as inputs into the annual assessments of fish stocks.

Article 25(2) of the newly reformed common fisheries policy (sets out the key principles for data collection:

accuracy

reliability and timeliness

avoidance of duplication through improved coordination

safe storage in database systems

improved availability of data

compliance with laws on personal data protection

access for the European Commission, enabling it to check the availability and quality of data and the methodology used to collect them.

These principles will be central to a Commission proposal for a revised Data Collection Framework regulation that is currently being prepared.

The Data Collection Framework is co-funded by the European Commission under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) which the fund for the EU’s maritime and fisheries policies for 2014-2020. It is one of the five European Structural and Investment (ESI) Funds which complement each other and seek to promote a growth and job based recovery in Europe.

Background

Pending the introduction of the revised regulation, the DCF will be underpinned by the existing regulation: EC Regulation 199/2008. This sets out the broad requirements relating to the:

collection, management and use of data in the framework of multi-national programmes

the data management process

use of data collected in the framework of the Common Fisheries Policy

support for scientific advice.

Regulation

Under the regulations, member states are required to compile a wide range of biological and economic data as specified in the Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1251 of 12 July 2016 which sets out the requirements for 2017-19. The requirements include:

biological data on stocks caught by Union commercial fisheries and by recreational fisheries;

data to assess the impact of Union fisheries on the marine ecosystem;

detailed data on the capacity and activity of Union fishing;

social and economic data on fisheries ;

social, economic and environmental data on aquaculture;

In order to meet the DCF requirements, each member state is required to set out the programme of work they will undertake. The rules on the format and content of work plans are set out in Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1701 of 19 August 2016.

The UK’s National Correspondent for the Data Collection Framework is Matt Elliott

UK work programme

Under the EMFF, each Member States has submitted an Operational Programme which outlines activities including data collection that will be co-funded. A more detailed programme of work is drawn up annually as required by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1701. The The UK programme sets out the work to be carried out by the three fisheries laboratories and other organisations such as Seafish. The currently adopted UK national programme with information representing the period 2014 to 2016and for previous years, including text and accompanying tables, is available.

The laboratories are among the leading providers of scientific research and services to government, non-governmental and commercial organisations in the UK. As such, they are responsible for collecting biological data and undertaking research surveys to meet the Data Collection Framework (DCF) requirements:

England and Wales: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)

Scotland: Marine Scotland

Northern Ireland: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

Seafish, a non-departmental public body, established to promote good quality, sustainable seafood, is commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the MMO and Marine Scotland to collect data on a range of economic variables covered by the DCF.

In order to assess whether or not each member states’ programme of work complies with its obligations, and can therefore be regarded as valid by the Commission, the programmes are reviewed by independent scientists and economists involved in fisheries work (through the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee of Fisheries forum (STECF).

Quality assurance and quality control

Article 5 of Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2016/1701 requires the description of a quality assurance and quality control framework in publicly available documents referred to in the work plans, where appropriate. Supporting documents for the work plan for 2017 to 2019 when available will be published here:

Table 5A: Quality assurance framework for biological data

Sampling for biological variables:



Stock Annex anglerfish IIa IIIa IV VI

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Anadromous and catadromous species data collection in fresh water:



UK EMP 2015 report published

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Table 5B: Quality assurance framework for socio-economic data



Fully documented fisheries 2017 to 2019

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In addition to the information required by the EU Regulations, the UK’s EMFF Operational programme makes provision for collection of data to monitor the effects of the landing obligation. This requirement will in part be met through the piloting of fully documented fisheries (catch quota trials). This work has been part of the UK’s multi-annual work programme since 2013 and will continue under the 2017 to 2019 programme.

Technical reports

Each year, member states are required to submit an annual report providing details of their national programmes undertaken in the previous year.

The most recent technical report and accompanying tables, with those for earlier years can be found on the [STECF website](https://datacollection.jrc.ec.europa.eu/ars0.

Useful links

The following organisations working together with the national correspondent based in the Marine Management Organisation contribute to the various elements of the Data Collection Framework (DCF), including to the UK’s national programme proposals and technical reports. Science co-ordinators from England and Wales (CEFAS and Environment Agency), Northern Ireland (Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute - AFBI) and Scotland (Marine Scotland) are responsible for delivery of UK fishery and survey data. All three laboratories carry out shore-based and sea-based sampling of UK fleets operating in waters off each country, as well as conducting internationally-coordinated surveys. The Environment Agency and NRW have a role in working with CEFAS in carrying out activities related to eels in river systems in England and Wales. Economic data on marine fisheries are collected by Seafish collects and those for aquaculture are collected by CEFAS.

UK organisations
European and worldwide organisations

UK organisations

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) is an internationally renowned aquatic scientific research and consultancy centre. They based in Lowestoft and Weymouth.

It aims to be the prime source of high quality science used to conserve and enhance the aquatic environment, promote sustainable management of its natural resources, and protect the public from aquatic contaminants.

Marine Scotland is the lead marine management organisation in Scotland. It was established on 1 April 2009 as a directorate of the Scottish Government, to integrate core marine functions involving scientific research, compliance monitoring, policy and management of Scotland’s seas.

Marine Scotland combines the functions and resources of the former Scottish Government Marine Directorate, Fisheries Research Services and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is based in Belfast and is a leading provider of scientific research and services to government, non-governmental and commercial organisations. With their unique breadth of facilities and scientific capability in agriculture, animal health, food, environment, biosciences and economics AFBI conducts a wide range of valuable projects for both the public and private sectors.

The Environment Agency is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs. The EA works to create better places for people and wildlife, and support sustainable development.

Natural Resources Wales is a Welsh Government Sponsored Body. Its purpose is to ensure that the natural resources of Wales are sustainably maintained, enhanced and used. Seafish the authority on seafood, works across all sectors of the seafood industry to promote good quality, sustainable seafood. Its research and projects are aimed at raising standards, improving efficiency and ensuring that our industry develops in a viable way. Seafish is the UK’s only cross-industry seafood body working with fishermen, processors, wholesalers, seafood farmers, fish friers, caterers, retailers and the import/export trade. Seafish is commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Marine Management Organisation and Marine Scotland to collect data on a range of economic variables covered by the DCF.

A non-departmental public body), it is sponsored by the four UK government fisheries departments and funded by a levy on seafood.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a government department in the UK. Its priorities are to:

secure a healthy natural environment for us all and deal with environmental risks

promote a sustainable, low-carbon and resource-efficient economy

ensure a thriving farming sector and a sustainable, healthy and secure food supply.

Research commissioned by Defra’s Marine and Fisheries Science Unit:

Defra’s role in marine science

Defra’s marine research programme

Marine and Fisheries Science Year Books

European and worldwide organisations

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre collects a range of fisheries data from member states in a standard format, enabling them to be easily analysed by teams of independent experts. The information derived is then used to inform the Common Fisheries Policy.

The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) is responsible for reviewing member states’ national programmes and other activities related to the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy. Established by the European Commission, STECF comprises highly qualified scientific personnel, particularly in the fields of marine biology, marine ecology, fisheries science, fishing gear technology and fishery economics.

STECF has the following working groups:

PLEN: Plenary

SG-BRE: Sub-group on balance between resources and the exploitation

SG-ECA: Sub-group on economic affairs

SG-FEN: Sub group on environmental impact

SG-MED: Sub-group on the Mediterranean Sea and on the Black sea

SG-MOS: Sub-group on management objectives and strategies

SG-RN: Sub-group on research needs

SG-RST: Sub-group on stock reviews

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea’s (ICES) mission is to advance the scientific capacity to give advice on human activities affecting, and affected by, marine ecosystems.

ICES co-ordinates and promotes marine research on oceanography, the marine environment, the marine ecosystem, and on living marine resources in the North Atlantic.

Its members include all coastal states bordering the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, with affiliate members in the Mediterranean Sea and southern hemisphere.

The North West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) is an inter-governmental fisheries science and management body.

NAFO was founded in 1979 as a successor to the International Commission of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF) (1949-1978). NAFO’s overall objective is to contribute through consultation and co-operation to the optimum use, rational management and conservation of the fishery resources of the convention area.

The EU Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is responsible for steering, in close relationship with stakeholders at regional and European level, the development and implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy and to manage the Common Fisheries Policy. This is done with a view to promote the sustainable development of maritime activities as well as the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources within and beyond Community waters. As such, the directorate’s functions include management of the Data Collection Framework.

Marine data sources

The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN), a partnership of public and private sector organisations working to provide harmonised stewardship and access to marine data and information. In doing so, it seeks to facilitate improved management of the seas and round the UK.

MEDIN has established four marine data archive centres:

the British Oceanographic Data Centre

the Data Archive for Seabed Species Habitats

the United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

British Geological Survey

MEDIN has also identified a further two candidate data archive centres, one for fisheries and one for marine meterology.

Procedures

EC regulation 1078/2008 lays down the detailed rules regarding the expenditure met by EU member states to fulfil the Data Collection Framework (DCF) requirements under the current programme. EU funding of 50% of the total amount incurred is available to help member states carry out the work.

However, to be eligible for a Community financial contribution, the expenditure must meet a strict set of criteria.

In order to assess whether or not each member states’ programme of work complies with its obligations, and can therefore be regarded as valid by the Commission, the programmes are reviewed by the scientists involved in fisheries work (through the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee of Fisheries forum (STECF).

Once the final work programmes have been agreed, taking in any amendments required, each year a final formal Commission Decision is voted on by member states to confirm the amount of funds available for each member state for the planned work. Member states then receive an advance payment of half of the allotted funds for that year.

After the end of each year, member states must submit:

a technical report providing details of their national programme undertaken in the previous year (see Technical Reports)

a financial report detailing the total actual costs of the work carried out and the balance of funds due to each member state is paid out.

As central co-ordinating body for the UK for this work, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) receives the payments made to the UK.

Transfers are made of amounts to [gri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) and to Marine Scotland treasury accounts to match the anticipated receipts incorporated into their financial programmes.

Defra funds the overall costs of Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) work through their memorandum of understanding. The remaining payment is therefore used to offset the overall payments made to cover Cefas’ total costs.

View a summary of the UK's budgets for recent years
(MS Excel Spreadsheet, 147KB)

UK work programme

Each year a UK programme of work is drawn up detailing the work to be carried out by the three fisheries laboratories and other organisations such as Seafish. For the period 2014-2016 the UK will implement the programme for 2011 to 2013 as laid down in the Commission Decision C(2013) 5568 of 30 August 2013. The UK national programme information for 2011 to 2013 and previous years, including text and accompanying tables, is available.

The laboratories are among the leading providers of scientific research and services to government, non-governmental and commercial organisations in the UK. As such, they are responsible for collecting biological data and undertaking research surveys to meet the Data Collection Framework (DCF) requirements:

England and Wales: Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas)

Scotland: Marine Scotland

Northern Ireland: Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute

Seafish, a non-departmental public body, established to promote good quality, sustainable seafood, is commissioned by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to collect data on a range of economic variables covered by the DCF.

UK national programme

EC Regulation 665/2008 EC Regulation 665/2008 specifies the components of the national programme to be provided by EU member states. The programmes shall comprise:

the actions planned as referred to in the multi-annual Community programme

the elements of analytical accounts as referred to in the multi-annual Community programme and by regions

a detailed description of the sampling strategies followed and the statistical estimates used

the elements demonstrating that the national programmes are co-ordinated in the same region and those tasks shared between the relevant member states.

The national programmes, comprising
text
(PDF, 8.23MB, 307 pages)

and accompanying
tables
(MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.05MB)

, for 2011-2013 are available, and those submitted by the UK since 2003, can be viewed on our archived pages

Technical reports

Each year, member states are required to submit an annual report providing details of their national programmes undertaken in the previous year.

The most recent
technical report
(PDF, 3.37MB, 133 pages)

and
accompanying tables
(MS Excel Spreadsheet, 1.72MB)

, submitted by the UK, are available. Those submitted since 2003 can be found on our archived pages.

Useful links

The following organisations are responsible for the UK’s provision of data to meet the requirements of the Data Collection Framework. Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) and Marine Scotland are primarily responsible for biological data while Seafish collects economic data. Working together with the national correspondent, based in the Statistics and Analysis Team, they contribute to the various elements of the Data Collection Framework (DCF), including to the UK’s national programme proposals, technical reports and provision of financial information.

UK organisations
European and worldwide organisations

UK organisations

The Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) is an internationally renowned aquatic scientific research and consultancy centre, based in Lowestoft and Weymouth.

It aims to be the prime source of high quality science used to conserve and enhance the aquatic environment, promote sustainable management of its natural resources, and protect the public from aquatic contaminants.

Marine Scotland is the lead marine management organisation in Scotland. It was established on 1 April 2009 as a directorate of the Scottish Government, to integrate core marine functions involving scientific research, compliance monitoring, policy and management of Scotland’s seas.

Marine Scotland combines the functions and resources of the former Scottish Government Marine Directorate, Fisheries Research Services and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.

The Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is based in Belfast and is a leading provider of scientific research and services to government, non-governmental and commercial organisations. With their unique breadth of facilities and scientific capability in agriculture, animal health, food, environment, biosciences and economics AFBI conducts a wide range of valuable projects for both the public and private sectors.

Seafish the authority on seafood, works across all sectors of the seafood industry to promote good quality, sustainable seafood. Its research and projects are aimed at raising standards, improving efficiency and ensuring that our industry develops in a viable way.
Seafish is the UK’s only cross-industry seafood body working with fishermen, processors, wholesalers, seafood farmers, fish friers, caterers, retailers and the import/export trade.

A non-departmental public body), it is sponsored by the four UK government fisheries departments and funded by a levy on seafood.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is a government department in the UK. Its priorities are to:

secure a healthy natural environment for us all and deal with environmental risks

promote a sustainable, low-carbon and resource-efficient economy

ensure a thriving farming sector and a sustainable, healthy and secure food supply.

Research commissioned by Defra’s Marine and Fisheries Science Unit:

Defra’s role in marine science

Defra’s marine research programme

Marine and Fisheries Science Year Books

European and worldwide organisations

The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre collects a range of fisheries data from member states in a standard format, enabling them to be easily analysed by teams of independent experts. The information derived is then used to inform the Common Fisheries Policy.

The Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) is responsible for reviewing member states’ national programmes and other activities related to the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy. Established by the European Commission, STECF comprises highly qualified scientific personnel, particularly in the fields of marine biology, marine ecology, fisheries science, fishing gear technology and fishery economics.

STECF has the following working groups:

PLEN: Plenary

SG-BRE: Sub-group on balance between resources and the exploitation

SG-ECA: Sub-group on economic affairs

SG-FEN: Sub group on environmental impact

SG-MED: Sub-group on the Mediterranean Sea and on the Black sea

SG-MOS: Sub-group on management objectives and strategies

SG-RN: Sub-group on research needs

SG-RST: Sub-group on stock reviews

The International Council for the Exploration of the Sea’s (ICES) mission is to advance the scientific capacity to give advice on human activities affecting, and affected by, marine ecosystems.

ICES co-ordinates and promotes marine research on oceanography, the marine environment, the marine ecosystem, and on living marine resources in the North Atlantic.

Its members include all coastal states bordering the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, with affiliate members in the Mediterranean Sea and southern hemisphere.

The North West Atlantic Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) is an inter-governmental fisheries science and management body.

NAFO was founded in 1979 as a successor to the International Commission of the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries (ICNAF) (1949-1978). NAFO’s overall objective is to contribute through consultation and co-operation to the optimum use, rational management and conservation of the fishery resources of the convention area.

The EU Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries is responsible for steering, in close relationship with stakeholders at regional and European level, the development and implementation of the Integrated Maritime Policy and to manage the Common Fisheries Policy. This is done with a view to promote the sustainable development of maritime activities as well as the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources within and beyond Community waters. As such, the directorate’s functions include management of the Data Collection Framework.

Marine data sources

The Marine Environmental Data and Information Network (MEDIN), a partnership of public and private sector organisations working to provide harmonised stewardship and access to marine data and information. In doing so, it seeks to facilitate improved management of the seas and round the UK.

MEDIN has established four marine data archive centres:

The British Oceanographic Data Centre

The Data Archive for Seabed Species Habitats

The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office

British Geological Survey

MEDIN has also identified a further two candidate data archive centres, one for fisheries and one for marine meterology.

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