The Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Information System (ASFIS) is an international co-operative information system for the collection and dissemination of information covering the science, technology and management of marine, brackishwater, and freshwater environments.

The Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA) Bibliographic Database is the principal information product of the ASFIS system. It contains approximately 1 million bibliographic references (or records) to the world's aquatic science literature accessioned since 1971 (for some journals and/or subject areas the coverage precedes 1971). All references are machine readable.

Find outmore about the history of ASFA ASFA: the first twenty years; an outline history of Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts, 1971-1990 Publ Year: 1995 Author: Varley, Allen 70 p., illus. Document code: IOC/INF.994

How is ASFA produced?

ASFA is produced as a cooperative effort by the international network of ASFA Partners (http://www.fao.org/fi/asfa/partners.asp) which consists of: United Nations Co-sponsoring Partners, National and International Partners, and the Publishing Partner. The objective is to disseminate bibliographic information to the world community. All ASFA Partners sign the ASFA Partnership Agreement (http://www.fao.org/fi/asfa/agreemt.asp ) and are represented on the ASFA Advisory Board (http://www.fao.org/fi/asfa/agreemt.asp#ArticleVIII) which meets annually and for which FAO provides the Secretariat (http://www.fao.org/fi/asfa/agreemt.asp#ArticleIX ).

From the master file, the ASFA Information Products (http://www.fao.org/fi/asfa/asfa.asp#ASFAP) are produced. They are distributed or made available to the ASFA Partners on a monthly/quarterly basis in the form of printed abstracts journals (e.g. ASFA-1, ASFA-2, ASFA-3) and in machine readable format (e.g. Internet access, CD-ROM, Magnetic tape) for use as a source of data in local, national or regional information services.

During the preparation of the bibliographic reference, it is the responsibility of the ASFA Partners: to identify the data elements making up the bibliographic citation, to write/edit the abstract, and to choose the indexing terms.

The project began in 1999 and was originally limited to providing only the ASFA CD-ROM to institutes only in Africa. The project was subsequently enlarged to include all LIFDC countries and also to include access to the ASFA database via Internet (albeit many LIFDC countries institutes do not have the necessary internet connectivity).

For institutes in LIFDC countries in Africa, the number of institutions accessing ASFA under this initiative is currently 38.

For the rest of the world ASFA LIFDC project, including both those receiving ASFA on CD-ROM and those receiving it via Internet, the total number of recipients (other than Africa) is currently 13.

It should be noted that a number of Institutes (7 to date), as a result of this project, have joined the ASFA Partnership (i.e. they submit ASFA bibliographic references to the ASFA database for the aquatic science literature published in their country. In return, they receive the ASFA information products as a result of their membership in ASFA and not as a result of the LIFDC project).

For details on how to apply for access to the ASFA Bibliographic Database through the FAO/ASFA LIFDC project initiative see FAQ-9 (ftp://ftp.fao.org/FI/asfa/faq/faq9_e.pdf )

Involvement of IOC/IODE in ASFIS/ASFA

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO's IODE programme is one of the 4 United Nations Co-sponsoring Partners (more info on ftp://ftp.fao.org/FI/asfa/asfa_partner_list.pdf ).

IOC/IODE's support to ASFA has consisted of promoting the establishment of ASFA national input centres in developing countries (eg through the ODIN projects), assist with the organization of ASFA input training courses, providing support for developing countries to participate in meetings of the ASFA Advisory Board, advocating free or affordable access by developing countries to the ASFA data base, and promoting the input of publications by scientists from developing countries (including grey literature) in ASFA.

IOC/IODE participates in the annual ASFA Advisory Board Sessions (see more on the Sessions and their reports on http://www.fao.org/figis/servlet/static?xml=asfa_prog.xml&dom=org&xp_nav=5.