Data Usage and Distribution Policy:

CalCOFI hydrographic and plankton data are distributed to the community for use without restriction. Unless otherwise noted, these data can be considered to be final data which have been evaluated using CalCOFI data quality control procedures. Methods for data collection and processing are summarized in cruise data report introductions.  Preliminary data from recent cruises for which the data processing is not complete can generally be made available to those programs for which there is an operational need. Refer to the Contacts page for addressing such requests. We ask that these preliminary data not be published or redistributed.

Acknowledgements:

CalCOFI research is supported by contributions from the participating agencies: The California State Department of Fish and Game, NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, and the University of California, Integrative Oceanography Division at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UCSD. Additional support for the development of the annual data CD is provided by NOAA, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

See our Affilates page for more information and other contributors.

Since 1949, hydrographic and biological data of the California Current System have been collected on quarterly CalCOFI cruises.  The 59+ year hydrographic time-series includes weather, temperature, salinity, oxygen and phosphate observations.  In 1961, nutrient analysis expanded to include silicate, nitrate and nitrite; in 1973, chlorophyll was added; in 1984, C14 primary productivity incubations were added.
These data are available in the folowing formats:

• CalCOFI Data Reports - CalCOFI Data Reports are a compilation of the physical, chemical, and biological data that is collected on our quarterly cruises.  These reports include materials & methods, reference citations, plots of cruise track, personnel, physical & biological parameters, tabular physical & productivity data, zooplankton biomass, and avifauna (bird) observations.  These reports are available in hardcopy since 1953 and electronically since 1985 (html & pdf).

• CalCOFI Reports - Since 1950, these yearly reports are published in conjunction with the yearly CalCOFI Conference by the cooperating agencies.  They include the Report of the CalCOFI Committee, State of the California Current, State of the Fisheries, Conference Symposium, and contributed papers.  If you are an author that would like to include one of the papers in these reports, please read our Instructions To Authors.
  

• CalCOFI Atlases - CalCOFI Atlases are specific volumes with analysis of various aspects of CalCOFI data published by cooperating agencies.  These publications are available in hardcopy and electronically since 1963.

CalCOFI Zooplankton data are available through NOAA IchthyoDB, SIO DataZoo, and the Cooperative Zooplankton Dataspace

NOAA Technical Memorandum which describes At Sea Methods and Lab Procedures.

Bird and Marine Mammal Census Data and Marine Mammal Acoustics on CalCOFI Cruises

Since 1987, seabirds and marine mammals have been surveyed along the CalCOFI transect during daylight hours while the ship is underway. Data counts on seabirds and marine mammals are entered into a handheld computer in real time and are available to filter or download on the Datazoo webpage. Information on methods can also be found on the Datazoo site. Bird observers participating on CalCOFI cruises are provided by support from the Farallon Institute for Advanced Ecosystem Research (Jul 2007 to present) and Point Reyes Bird Observatory (PRBO, 1987-2006).