Reference Data – IOTC Code Lists for Fisheries Statistics

This dataset contains the complete set of reference data (code lists) maintained by the IOTC Secretariat to support the standardisation, validation, and integration of fisheries statistical data. These code lists are used across all data collection and reporting frameworks under the IOTC mandate and include controlled vocabularies for vessel types, gear types, species, areas, flag States, and other attributes relevant to tuna and tuna-like species fisheries. The code lists are made available in three tabular formats — CSV, RDA (R binary), and Parquet — to facilitate accessibility and interoperability across data science environments. They are also distributed as an R library via the IOTC Secretariat GitHub repository, and mirrored by the Fisheries Data Interoperability Working Group (FDIWG) for broader interoperability within the fisheries data community. The dataset is versioned to ensure reproducibility and traceability in the context of the IOTC scientific process and wider scientific analyses.

The code lists are maintained and published by the IOTC Secretariat, which serves as the hosting institution responsible for their curation and periodic updates.