Format updates
A unified format, equal through DATRAS surveys was adopted in late 2020, following the resolution from the DATRAS Governance group of the same year.
At the same time, a new format with headers was introduced (where previously submissions without headers were accepted). This change allows submissions of only desired variables and leaves out unused fields, reducing the file size and simplifying the format conversions.
Since late 2020 both submission formats have coexisted, with and without headers.
In order to allow the addition of new fields minimising the impact on the rest of the surveys, DATRAS will stop accepting submissions without headers from Q3 2022. This will allow new fields to be added as requested by the different DATRAS stakeholders without requiring format changes for all submitters.
At the same time a new field will be added to the CA records:
LiverWeight. This field was requested by BITS in 2020.
Maturity Scales accepted
Following a recommendation from WKASMSF (Workshop for advancing sexual maturity staging in fish in 2018), only two scales will be accepted for new submissions from now on: M6 and SMSF.
Timeline for thESE changeS
Submissions in unified format with headers (stop accepting submissions without headers)
| 1st July 2022 |
New CA field LiverWeight available for all surveys
Only M6 and SMSF Maturity Scales accepted in new submissions
| 1st July 2022
1st April 2022 |