Data storage

A clear data structure at the start will make future BECCA analysis much easier. The main recommendation is to store the data in long format rather than wide format. In long format, each row represents one catch memory or catch event, rather than one respondent.

A BECCA dataset should ideally include four linked tables: a respondent table, a catch-event table, a local unit conversion table, and a location or region table. For simple projects, these can be separate sheets in one spreadsheet.

Respondent table

Column name Description Example
respondent_id Unique anonymous ID for each respondent R001
interview_id Unique ID for the interview INT001
interview_date Date of interview 2026-05-12
interviewer Interviewer name or code AB
community Community, village, landing site, or respondent base Village A
respondent_role Main role in fishery gleaner
role_other Other role, if relevant trader-fisher
target_fishery Fishery discussed cockle gleaning
target_species_local Local species name local cockle name
target_species_scientific Scientific name, if known Species sp.
year_started Year respondent started fishing/harvesting 1998
years_experience Years of experience 28
age Respondent age, if collected 52
gender Gender, if collected and appropriate woman
main_purpose Food, income, recreation, guiding, mixed food and sale
typical_days_per_year Typical number of fishing/harvesting days per year 120
typical_hours_per_day Typical hours per fishing/harvesting day 4.5
main_gear Main gear or method hand collection
main_area Main fishing or harvesting area North flats
consent_given Consent recorded yes
follow_up_permission Permission to contact again yes
notes Non-sensitive notes experienced collector

Catch-event table

Column name Description Example
event_id Unique ID for each catch event E0001
respondent_id Links to respondent table R001
event_type current_year_best, best_ever, first_year, largest_ever, current_year_largest best_ever
metric_type What was measured buckets
metric_category catch, encounter, size, effort, composition catch
species_or_group Species or group being reported cockles
event_year Year the catch event happened 2009
event_year_precision exact, approximate, decade, unknown exact
catch_amount_raw Original number reported 4
catch_unit_raw Original unit reported buckets
catch_amount_standardised Converted amount, if possible 48
standardised_unit Standard unit after conversion kg
conversion_used Was a local unit conversion used? yes
conversion_id Links to unit conversion table U002
hours_fished Hours fished or harvested 5
people_involved Number of people involved 2
person_hours people_involved × hours_fished 10
gear_or_method Gear or method used hand collection
gear_local_name Local gear or method name local term
effort_amount Additional effort amount, if relevant 12
effort_unit Additional effort unit traps
soak_time_hours Soak time for traps/nets, if relevant NA
area_reported Area name given by respondent North flats
area_id Links to region/location table A01
individual_or_group_catch individual, boat, crew, household, group, shared gear household
confidence very confident, fairly confident, unsure fairly confident
reason_remembered Why respondent remembers event first very large harvest
sensitive_location Does this include sensitive location info? no
quality_flag A, B, C, D, or E A
notes Any extra explanation spring tide

Local unit conversion table

Column name Description Example
conversion_id Unique ID for conversion U002
community Community or location where unit applies Village A
local_unit Local unit name bucket
unit_description Description of the unit 10-litre household bucket, filled to rim
species_or_group Species or group conversion applies to cockles
number_per_unit Approximate individuals per unit 150
weight_per_unit Approximate weight per unit 12
weight_unit kg or lb kg
conversion_source Who provided conversion three harvesters and market check
conversion_checked Was it checked directly? yes
photo_id Photo reference, if photographed IMG_023
uncertainty low, medium, high medium
notes Notes on variation smaller shells increase count per bucket

Location or region table

Column name Description Example
area_id Unique location or region ID A01
area_name Standard area name North flats
local_area_name Local place name local term
area_type village, reef, bay, region, landing site, management zone harvesting area
broader_region Larger region if relevant District 1
sensitive Should exact location be protected? yes
latitude Optional approximate latitude NA
longitude Optional approximate longitude NA
geometry_available Is a boundary or spatial file available? no
notes Any notes do not publish exact location

Example long-format catch-event data

event_id respondent_id event_type event_year metric_type catch_amount_raw catch_unit_raw hours_fished people_involved gear_or_method area_reported confidence quality_flag
E001 R001 current_year_best 2026 buckets 2 buckets 4 1 hand collection North flats very_confident A
E002 R001 best_ever 2009 buckets 4 buckets 5 2 hand collection North flats fairly_confident A
E003 R001 first_year 1998 buckets 3 buckets 4 2 hand collection North flats unsure B
E004 R002 current_year_best 2026 hookups 6 hookups 7 1 fly fishing Bay region very_confident A
E005 R002 best_ever 2012 hookups 18 hookups 8 1 fly fishing Bay region very_confident A