Marine Fisheries Statistical Unit (MFSU)

Overview

The Marine Fisheries Statistical Unit (MFSU) originated when CDFW started collection of commercial fishing data in 1916. This unit oversees the receipt and distribution of commercial fishing records. California laws (Fish and Game Code) and regulations (California Code of Regulations [CCR], Title 14) mandate reporting of specific commercial fishing activity to CDFW in various forms and require those data be kept confidential so as not to disclose the information of any individual. Commercial activity statistics may be published in a summarized aggregate form - use the Marine Fisheries Data Explorer to access California non-confidential commercial fisheries data. See below for more options on data retrieval. Resources and references for commercial fishing reporting are provided in the sections below. For recreational fishing data, see the California Recreational Fisheries Survey (CRFS) page.

Submit Landings or Log Data

Commercial Landings Data: E-Tix

E-Tix Portal

As of July 1, 2019, all commercial landings must be reported to CDFW by submitting electronic fish tickets through E-Tix. Fish businesses have 3 business days to submit their electronic fish ticket through E-Tix, unless the landing includes bluefin tuna, sablefish, or trawled groundfish, in which case the fish business must submit the electronic fish ticket within 24 hours of the landing. Additional information about this process is outlined on the Procedures and Resources for Commercial Landings page. For all questions related to electronic fish tickets or submitting landings data, contact Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) at etix@psfmc.org.

Commercial Passenger Fishing Vessel (CPFV): E-Logs

CPFV Logs

CDFW recommends CPFV operators use E-Logs, a browser-based application that allows electronic submission of CPFV log data directly to CDFW from a smartphone or tablet. View the E-Log training videos or reach out to CPFV.Help@wildlife.ca.gov if you have questions.

CPFV Log Requirements

• Submission Due Dates: Monthly CPFV E-Logs must be submitted electronically to CDFW by the 10th of the following month (e.g. June logs are due by July 10th). When using paper logs, they must be postmarked by this same deadline – see below for more information on paper logs.
• "No Fishing" Months: Licensed CPFVs are required to submit logs to CDFW, even when inactive. If no fishing activity occurs in a given month, a “No Fishing Activity” log dated the last calendar day of the month must be submitted.
• Per Trip Requirement: One log per fishing trip is required, including when multiple trips occur on a single day. When trips span multiple days, one log per calendar day is required, including days where no fishing activity takes place.
• Personal Trips: Trips in which a CPFV is used to take out friends or family on a private trip still require a “Non-Paying” log to indicate fishing activity from the vessel.
• International Fishing: If fishing in Mexican or International waters, be sure to look up additional reporting requirements in those areas.

For questions regarding CPFV data reporting, contact CPFV.Help@wildlife.ca.gov. For questions regarding commercial fishing and logbook data, contact MFSU@wildlife.ca.gov.

Logbooks and Other Forms Information

Request Logbooks and Other Forms

CDFW provides paper logbooks and forms to commercial fishermen to collect data related to fishing activity – refer to the commercial fishing digest (PDF) to see which fisheries require a logbook. See the table below for information regarding individual logbooks and where to send completed logs.

If you need to request more logbooks, Fish Transportation Receipts (FTRs), or Marine Aquaria Landing Receipts (MALRs), use the request option above or call MFSU at (562) 342-7130. If you have general fishery questions, contact AskMarine@wildlife.ca.gov.

Logbook Mailing Addresses

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Federal Logs

Some fisheries require federal logbooks be completed and sent to NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), check federal regulations and NOAA resources prior to fishing.

• For information on the Groundfish non-trawl logbook and fishery, see NOAA Fisheries' Compliance Guide for the Pacific Coast Groundfish Open-Access Fishery (PDF)
• For information on highly migratory species fisheries and logbooks, see NOAA Fisheries' West Coast Highly Migratory Species Logbooks page
• For the California – Oregon – Washington Trawl federal logbook, direct logbook requests to MFSU@wildlife.ca.gov and general fishery questions to AskMarine@wildlife.ca.gov. Prior to July 1, 2019, Trawl Logs were managed by CDFW, and are now managed federally by NOAA.

Retrieve Landings or Log Data

Retrieve Your Commercial Data Records

Commercial Data Records Request

If you are a commercial fisherman, vessel owner, or fish business use the Commercial Data Records Request link above to request your individual, personal commercial landings or log data. If you are looking for comprehensive, summarized data available to the public, use the Marine Fisheries Data Explorer detailed below.

Fishing Data Confidentiality: FGC 8022 mandates that commercial fishing records are not accessible to the public without summary aggregation to a level sufficient to maintain the confidential information of any individual who has provided the information to CDFW. Individuals including commercial fishing license holders, commercial fishing vessel owners, and fish business license holders may request and receive their own records using the Commercial Data Records Request above.

Marine Fisheries Data Explorer (MFDE)

Marine Fisheries Data Explorer

The MFDE is a data visualization tool that summarizes publicly available, non-confidential fisheries data on all marine finfish and invertebrate species in California’s commercial fisheries. It includes a variety of interactive visuals, with multiple views, filtering, and data export options.

The MFDE can summarize data in pounds, price per pound, overall ex-vessel value, catch location, condition, and by port area, for landings from 1980 to the present. MFDE now houses the long-running, previously published California Commercial Landings tables in multiple formats, going back to 1980. For data prior to 1980, see the historical fish bulletins section below.

Historical Fish Bulletins

Commercial and recreational fishing data from 1916 - 1999 are available in archival publication online.

CDFW Marine Region "By the Numbers" Reports

Beginning in 2014 these By the Numbers annual reports detail high level summary statistics related to the Marine Region's work in a given year. This includes commercial and recreational fishing data summaries.

Reference Codes and Charts

Block Charts

Important Notice - Read this letter (PDF) and summary (PDF) describing the changes in Fishing Block Charts starting January 1, 2025.

• New Charts Effective January 1, 2025 (PDF)
• Charts Discontinued after December 31, 2024 (PDF)

Reference Codes

• Species Codes and Groups
• Gear Codes
• Port Codes
• Condition Codes
• Grade Codes
• Use Codes
• Licenses and Permits

Additional Resources

• Commercial Fishing Overview
• Recreational Fishing Data
• Requirement for Electronic Fish Tickets (FGC 8043)
• Requirement for Fish Tickets and Other Receipts (14 CCR § 197)
• Requirement for Logbooks (14 CCR § 190)

Contacts

• Marine Fisheries Statistical Unit – MFSU@wildlife.ca.gov or (562) 342-7130
• CDFW Accounts – DataPortal@wildlife.ca.gov
• CPFV Logs – CPFV.Help@wildlife.ca.gov
• Electronic Fish Tickets (ETIX) – etix@psfmc.org
• Commercial Licenses – LRBCOMM@wildlife.ca.gov
• Commercial Landings Fees – FishLandingFee@wildlife.ca.gov
• General CDFW and Fisheries Questions – AskMarine@wildlife.ca.gov