Professional Indexing Services for Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA)

INTRODUCTION The Information Management Branch within the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) was tasked with ensuring that quality ASFA indexing continues as part of an agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The AFSA Advisory Board requires that all those entrusted with submitting entries to the ASFA United Nations database be either a librarian, library technician or someone with significant experience with fisheries or aquatic sciences research tools. It is essential that the ASFA indexer has training to use the software, www-ISI-ASFA and has experience in the preparation of the ASFA data prior to inputting. A course (which is not available to the general public) is provided by FAO to all ASFA partners, that explains the rules, authority lists, formats, codes and procedures required by all ASFA indexers. The creation of ASFA indexing entries requires skill and experience with cataloguing, using aquatic sciences thesaurus tools and subject analysis of aquatic sciences research publications. Data entry must follow the ASFA guidelines. Furthermore, an intimate knowledge of the ASFA input screens and marine science publishing industry is required because documenting the indexing process and creating appropriate procedural material comprises part of the deliverables of this contract. BACKGROUND In 1970, the ASFA database was established by the FAO which provides an abstracting and indexing service covering the world’s literature on the science, technology, management, and conservation of marine, brackish water, and freshwater resources and environments, including their socio-economic and legal aspects. DFO has a responsibility and an agreement with FAO to ensure aquatic and fisheries Canadian content is indexed in ASFA. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the professional indexing services for the ASFA database is to fulfil the department’s obligation as an ASFA partner and to ensure that aquatic and fisheries Canadian content is indexed in the ASFA database.