The CWP Standard for Reference Harmonization and associated data structures represent a conceptual framework which requires guidelines for their practical implementation. The guidelines aim to facilitate the adoption of the standard in each participating organization’s statistical dissemination systems, and improve the timeliness of data exchange between organizations through the use of automated and integrated systems. The guidelines are based on use cases and describe the steps required to implement the data structures at national or regional levels.

The guidelines outline the statistical concepts, classification systems and coding systems used in each data structure (e.g. unique identifiers, codes, constraints). The guidelines consider practical applications and propose solutions for implementation in organization’s databases. The guidelines also identify tools and resources (e.g. CWP catalog) which are available to support implementation by agencies.

The implementation guidelines are being developed by the CWP ad-hoc Task Group on Reference Harmonization for capture fishery and aquaculture statistics and the first version of the guidelines was agreed by CWP in 2022.

FAO. 2022. Report of the twenty-seventh session of the Coordinating Working Party on Fishery Statistics. Rome, Italy, 20-24 June 2022. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No. 1397. Rome, FAO. 51 pp. (also available at https://www.fao.org/3/cc3232en/cc3232en.pdf).