Overview

A collection of code lists modelling:

Return back to the list of reference data domains.

Species Groups

All groups of species of relevance to the IOTC.

Species Categories

All categories of species of relevance to the IOTC.

Species

Reference codes modelling the species interacting with Indian Ocean fisheries as:

  • target species (retained or discarded)
  • non-target species (retained or discarded)
  • sampled individuals
  • etc.

These correspond to a subset of the entries currently found in the ASFIS list of species for fishery statistics purposes, from which they inherit the alphabetic codes, English, French and scientific names, as well as the family and order, and add the species category (in the IOTC sense), and other characteristics of each entry such as their status of single species / species aggregate, bait species, SSI species, IOTC species.

Species references are associated to a species group and to a species category through their SPECIES_GROUP_CODE and SPECIES_CATEGORY_CODE attributes, respectively.

All Species

All species of relevance to the IOTC, regardless of their nature and classification.

IOTC Species

The subset of species that are managed by the IOTC, as defined in Article 3 of the Agreement (Species and stocks):

“The species covered by this Agreement shall be those set out in Annex B. The term ‘stocks’ means the populations of such species which are located in the Area or migrate into or out of the Area”.

Sharks and Rays

The Commission identified other species, especially pelagic sharks and rays, which make an important bycatch of IOTC fisheries and agreed that data requirements for IOTC species shall apply to these species as well.

Species of Special Interest

For the purpose of improving the voluntary collection of information on the post-release mortality of discarded species of special interest, the Scientific Committee – at its 21st session in 2018 – endorsed the list of species considered of special interest, as proposed by the ROS expert workshop.

This list is originally found in Appendix VIII of the WPDCS14 report, and further simplified in Appendix 6b of the SC21 report.

Currently, the list of species of special interest includes:

  1. All marine turtles
  2. All cetaceans
  3. All seabirds
  4. Most billfish species
  5. Most pelagic shark species
  6. All mobulid rays

Gear Interactions

Handling Methods

Reference codes for the methods used to handle the individuals of Species of Special Interest brought onboard.

Cetaceans

A comprehensive list of cetacean species, which are all considered of special interest by the IOTC.

Cetaceans and Whale Sharks

A comprehensive list of cetacean species and whale shark, which are all considered of special interest by the IOTC.

Seabirds

A comprehensive list of seabird species, which are all considered of special interest by the IOTC.

Marine Turtles

The list of marine turtles species found in the Indian Ocean, which are all considered of special interest by the IOTC.

Other Species

Bait Species

Bait Conditions

Reference codes for the bait conditions.

Types of Bait

Reference codes for the types of bait.

Predator Species

Types of Fate

Reference codes used to identify a given fate as indicating that the fish has been retained or discarded.

Fates

All possible fates, combining the reasons for retain and those for discard.

Reasons for Retaining

Reference codes modelling the reasons why aquatic creatures caught by the fishery are retained onboard, i.e., those with the type of fate set to ‘RE’.

Reasons for Discarding

Reference codes that model the reasons why aquatic creatures caught by the fishery are then discarded at sea, i.e., those with the type of fate set to ‘DI’.

Individual Conditions

Reference codes modelling the conditions (at capture / at release) of individual aquatic creatures being discarded at sea or measured.

Depredation Sources

Reference codes for depredation sources.

Scars

Reference codes for the origin of the scars observed from depredation events.

Tagging

Types of Tag

Reference codes for the types of tags released or retrieved.

Sampling

Period

Reference codes for the period (during operations) when samples are collected.

Protocols

Reference codes for the possible sampling protocols used by observers during hauling operations.

Fish Status

Reference codes describing the status of fish specimens sampled, according to their preservation or processing condition.

Sex

Reference codes modelling the sex of the individual aquatic creatures being measured.

Maturity Stages

Reference codes modelling the maturity stage derived from macroscopic exam of the gonads.

Methods

Biological Sampling

Reference codes for the sampling methods used by observers for the collection of biological sub-samples.

Total Catch Estimation

Reference codes for the sampling methods used by observers to obtain total catch estimates per species for the observed set.

Biological Materials

Reference codes for the possible types of biological materials collected by samplers or observers.

Sample Preservation Methods

Morphometrics

Types of Measurement

Reference codes used to identify a given measurement type as length or weight measurements, as well as to identify a given measurement tool as measuring lengths or weights.

Measurements

All Measurements

All possible measurements, combining those specific for individual lengths and weights.

These do not include information on the actual measuring tool used, nor on the straight / curved nature of the measurement (for lengths only) which have to be provided separately if necessary.

Length Measurements

All possible length measurements, i.e., those with the type of measurement set to ‘LN’.

Weight Measurements

All possible weight measurements, i.e., those with the type of measurement set to ‘WG’.

Measurement Tools

All Measurement Tools

All possible measurement tools, combining those specific for individual lengths and weights.

Length Measurement Tools

All possible length measurement tools, i.e., those with the type of measurement set to ‘LN’.

Weight Measurement Tools

All possible weight measurement tools, i.e., those with the type of measurement set to ‘WG’.

Recommended Measurements

All recommended measurement values (size bins, min / max measurements, etc.) by species.