Ministry of Labour and Citizens' Services
Fish Data Submission – Requirements
Standard Data Submission Format
A Standard format data submission must be provided in all cases where sampling was attempted, (including incidents where no fish have been caught (NFC), or streams are Dewatered or Dry/Intermittent or have No Visible Channel). The two Standard Formats are the Field Data Information System (FDIS) and the Excel Template as described below. In both cases; you need only provide the information that satisfies the minimum data submission requirements. Detailed habitat, sampling and individual fish information are not required. However, if additional habitat, sampling and individual fish information was collected, and you wish to provide it, both formats will allow you to provide that data for inclusion into the provincial databases.
1. Field Data Information System (FDIS)
The Field Data Information System (FDIS) is an MS Access data capture and reporting tool developed to collect fish and fish habitat data to Resource Information Standards Committee (RISC) standards.
2. Microsoft Excel Template
April 27, 2012: Note a new version of the Fish Data Submission Spreadsheet Template has been released. It has additional functionality and instructions on fields and requirements. Please utilize the new version, and not any previous versions you may have saved The new spreadsheet can be used for 2011 submissions as well as 2012 submissions. Although additional requirements have been minimal please pay attention to the column headings. Distinctions have been made between fields that are always required, those that are situationally required, and those that are optional but perferred. A list of changes to the template is available here. Further detailed explanation of requirements can be found in the Minimum Data Standards. A significant enhancement to the spreadsheet is the inclusion of Definitions, Methods, and Recording Procedures for each column. We hope that the new spreadsheet provides clarity on the meaning of some of the fields and the expectations around requirements. If you have any questions, or concerns please contact us at fishdatasub@gov.bc.ca. |
Although FDIS, is ideal for expediating the process for loading data into the provincial data base, we recognize many contractors unfamiliar with FDIS will not want to learn a new system. In light of this, we have provided a standardized Fish Data Submission Spreadsheet Template (3.60MB) that that can be used to submit data that satisfies the minimum data standard requirements as well as additional habitat, sampling and individual fish information, without the steeper learning curve of the FDIS tool.
Other File Formats
Currently, the only format choices for meeting the minimum data submission requirements are FDIS or the Excel Template as indicated above. However, if you wish to provide information in addition to the minimum data standard requirements, written reports, photos, maps, and additional data will be accepted if submitted in digital form for inclusion into EcoCat (ourpublic reports catalogue). Adobe PDFs are the preferred format for reports and maps, Excel and Access are preferred for custom spreadsheets and databases.
If you have questions about the minimum formats and standards, please send an email to fishdatasub@gov.bc.ca.
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