THE NATIONAL TUNA DATA COORDINATOR
The National Tuna Data Coordinator (NTDC) is responsible for ensuring that
every licensed vessel submits its tuna fishery data on time, every time.
Work tasks associated with the role of the NTDC
·
Checksdatasubmissionsattheendofeverymonth.
·
Regularlyreconcilesandcross-checksdatasubmissions.
·
Providesindustrywithdatasubmissionreports.
·
Highlightsanydatagapsandliaiseswithindustryuntilthedatagapsare
resolved.
·
Ensuresthatindustryisusingthemostrecentversionoftheregionalstandard
tunadataforms.
·
Followsuponanydataqualityissues.
·
Makessurethatdatahasbeenenteredandisavailablefordissemination.
May also
·
Supervisetheentryandregistrationofdata.
·
Conductdataaudits.
·
ContributetothecompilationoftheAnnualReport(Part1)madetothe
WesternandCentralPacificFisheriesCommission(WCPFC).
·
Superviseorparticipateintunasampling(portsamplingandobserving).
·
Collecttunadataformsfromunloadingvessels.
Does every country and territory need a NTDC?
ItisimportantthatthemaintasksoftheNTDCareclearlyidentifiedandassignedto
someoneintheFisheriesDepartmentasamatterofpriority.Inmostcountriesand
territoriestheNTDCwillbeafull-timeposition,butinotherstheNTDCcanbeseen
asacombinationoftasksthathavebeenassignedtooneperson,whomayalso
haveotherduties.
TheSecretariatofthePacificCommunity(SPC)recommendsthatalldatacollection,
managementanddisseminationtasksareclearlyidentifiedandassignedtostaff
in-country.AresponsibilitytemplateisprovidedbySPCtohelpcountriesand
territoriesensurethatalloftheimportantdatataskshavebeenassigned.The
objectiveofhavingaNTDCpositionisthento"coordinate"thetunadatatasksand
tohaveanactiveroleinallaspectsoftunadata.
Why is it important that countries and territories identify someone who will have the
overall responsibility for the flow of tuna data?
Experiencehasshownitisbetterif(atleast)onepersonineachcountryorterritory
understandstheprocessesforcollectingandmanagingalltypesoftunafishery
dataandisassignedwiththeoveralltaskofcross-checkingdatasubmissionsto
ensurethatvesselsarefullycompliantandup-to-date.Onetypeofdataisoften
usedtoverifyanothertypeofdata,andifestablishedpositionsonlyfocuson
onetypeofdata,thentheimportantverificationanddataqualitycontrolworkis
neglected.Bycreatingapositionthathasresponsibilityfordealingwithalltypesof
data,countriesandterritorieswillbeinabetterpositiontomeettheirWCPFCdata
provisionresponsibilities.

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THE NATIONAL TUNA DATA COORDINATOR
Training and support for NTDCs
SPCendeavorstoholdaTunaDataWorkshoponayearlybasistoshareandup-
datetheskillsofnationaltunadatacoordinators.In-countrysupportvisitsand
attachmenttrainingatSPCarealsoprovided.Anationaltunadataprocedures
document(NTDPD),producedbycountriesandterritorieswithassistancefromSPC,
helpstodocumentthebestnationaltunadataproceduresandensuresthatallstaff
membershaveaccesstothesebestpractices.
The National Tuna Data Coordinator
TUFMAN
NTDPD
National Fisheries Legislation
Tools
(Tuna Fishery Database)
Staff
Industry
Liaison
Coordinates, manages and facilitates
The Tuna Data System
(Collection, Management and Dissemination)
USERS OF THE DATA
National managers/researchers/decision makers
Regional bodies: WCPFC, SPC, FFA
For more information contactPeterWilliams(PeterW@spc.int)FisheriesDatabase
Supervisor,orDeirdreBrogan,FisheriesMonitoringSupervisor(DeirdreB@spc.int).

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