The main task of the Information and Data Division is to support the information base for fisheries and fisheries science and to manage the corresponding data and information. Specialists of the Division are involved in creation of overviews and reports addressed to:
- Latvian national institutions such as Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, the Marine and Inland Water Administration, the Rural Support Service;
- local governments, non-governmental organizations, private companies in Latvia;
- European Commission structures, mainly to the Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).
Data overviews are submitted primarily in frame of the Latvian National Program for Collection of Fisheries Data, as well as accordingly to other requests of national and international organizations.
Implementation of the Latvian National Program for Collection of Fisheries Data includes the collection and preparation of statistical and biological data in accordance with Program’s modules: “Module of evaluation of the fishing sector”, "Module of the evaluation of the economic situation of the aquaculture and processing industry”, "Module of evaluation of the effects of the fishing sector on the marine ecosystem”, "Module for management and use of the data”. Realizing the Division’s tasks specialists manage the Integral Latvian Information System for Fisheries Control (ICIS) and other information systems, carry out data handling, grouping, analysis and transmission procedures.
The Information and Data Division also performs administration and development of Biological Data System „BIODATA” for Latvian Fisheries. “BIODATA” was created in 2003 in order to collect and support exchange of scientific data on biology, hydrobiology and oceanography. “BIODATA” also is a base for handling and preparation the appropriate datasets in accordance with requirements of international databases (FishFrame, DATRAS, and others) in frame of International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES).
Specialists of the Division also carry out verification of the Information System of Latvian Inland Waters Fishing and Aquaculture (LIAIS) in frame of project PROMIWA.
The Information and Data Division maintain the Scientific Library’s collection and services to support specific information needs; maintain and develop e-catalogue of scientific data archive.
International cooperation
Participation in Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF) working and expert groups:
Sub-group on research needs (SG-RN);
Sub-group on management objectives and strategies (SG-MOS)
Sub-group on economic affairs (SG-ECA).