Description

This form provides for the monthly reporting of size-frequency estimates for IOTC species, as well as common sharks and other bycatch species caught in association with IOTC fisheries. The form allows reporting data for multiple fisheries and species simultaneously.

Click here to download a blank version of Form 4SF, or return to the list of all IOTC statistical data reporting forms.

Data Content

Numbers of fish sampled and raised by size category and species, along with information on the value (%) and type of sampling coverage used for the estimations by month, year, fleet, fishery, and geographical grid.

Stratification

General Information

Element Requirement Description Format Example value
Reporting year M Gregorian calendar year of the fishing activities reported through the dataset 4-digit integer 1996
Reporting entity M Three-letter (alpha-3) code of the entity reporting the dataset to the IOTC Secretariat Code from Entities EUR
Flag state M Three-letter (alpha-3) code of the country registration of the fishery vessels Code from Countries FRA

Main Data Elements

Element Requirement Description Format Example value
Month M Month of fishing activities Integer 7
Fishery M IOTC fishery derived from the combination of several factors Code from Fisheries PS-DF[IN]TR
Grid M Fishing area Code from Grid codes 6100040
Species M Species caught and retained Code from Species YFT
Sex O Sex of the fish sampled Code from Sex F
Type of fate M Fate of fish caught Code from Types of fate RE
Fate O Reason for retention or discarding of the fish Code from Fate FL

Original Data

Element Requirement Description Format Example value
Estimation M Indicates whether the data were estimated Code from Estimations
Original data type M Preliminary/final status of the data Code from Types of data FI
Original data source M Source of information Code from Size-frequency data sources OB
Original data processing M Processing applied to the data Code from Size-frequency data processings TE
Data raising M Level of raising (i.e., extrapolation) Code from Raisings RT
Source coverage type O Variable used for data coverage Code from Types of coverage FW
Source coverage value M Value of coverage Numeric with two decimal places

Measurements

Element Requirement Description Format Example value
Type of Measurement M General type of size measurement Code from Types of measurement LN
Measurement M Nature of the size measurement Code from Measurements FL
Measurement tool O Tool used to take the measurement Code from Measurement tools CA

Sample Data

Element Requirement Description Format Example value
Size class (low) M The lower value of the bin size Integer 121
Size class (high) M The higher vaue recorded of the bin size Integer 122
Number of samples M Actual number of fish measured in the stratum Integer 182
Number of fish M Raised number of fish in the stratum Numeric 2563

Reporting Metadata

Element Requirement Description Format Example value
Liaison officer full name M Name of the liaison officer in charge of the compilation of the data Plain text John Doe
Liaison officer email M Email address of the liaison officer in charge of the compilation of the data Valid email address John.Doe@fao.org
Organisation name M Name of the organisation in charge of the compilation of the data Plain text National Institute of Fisheries
Organisation email O Email address of the organisation in charge of the compilation of the data nif@gov.sc
Finalisation date M Date of finalisation of the dataset ISO 8601 1996-03-27
Submission date M Date of submission of the dataset ISO 8601 1997-03-21

Reporting Deadlines

  • Longline fisheries: 30 June (preliminary), 30 December (final)
  • Surface fisheries: 30 June (final)
  • Coastal fisheries: 30 June (final)

Reference Code Lists

Entities

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12

Countries

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12

IOTC 5° grids

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12

Fisheries

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.36925
  • Last update: 2025-06-27

Types of Measurement

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12

Measurements

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.6
  • Last update: 2024-09-28

Measurement tools

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12

Types of Fate

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12

Fates

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.1
  • Last update: 2024-02-01

Sexes

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2000-04-07

Species

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.1
  • Last update: 2025-06-27

Types of Data

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12

Data Raising

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12

Size-Frequency Data Sources

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2025-09-11

Size-Frequency Data Processings

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12

Types of Coverage

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12

Estimations

  • Permalink
  • Version: 1.0.0
  • Last update: 2023-05-12