The statistical population is the group of OECD members and participating non-OECD economies.

In order to facilitate analysis and comparisons over time, historical data for OECD members have been provided over as long a period as possible, often even before a country became a member of the Organisation.

Information on the membership dates of all OECD countries can be found at OECD Ratification Dates.

This dataset includes:

- all commercial, industrial and subsistence fishers, operating in freshwater, brackish water, and marine waters, catching and landing aquatic animals and plants, not only those operating from fishing vessels of all types, but also those operating land-based fishing gears and installations from the banks of rivers, lakes, canals, dams etc., and from beaches and shores which do not require the use of auxiliary boats

- people working on fish farms, hatcheries, and employed in shell fish culture operations

- the crews on fish factory ships, mother ships to fishing fleets, and on auxiliary craft such as, fish carriers, and fish transport craft

- nationals, and others employed on nationally registered vessels landing their catches in foreign ports

- food processors and preparers involved with the preparation of fish and/or fish products on board and/or on land.

This dataset does not include:

- foreign fishers working on foreign vessels landing in national ports

- fishers on whaling vessels

- the crews of state-operated fishery patrol vessels, fishery protection vessels, hospital ships, etc.

Unpaid labour (i.e. family members included in fishing business but not remunerated) is included.

The methodological reference document for fisheries and aquaculture statistics is the CWP Handbook of Fishery Statistics.

The CWP noted a number of problems in identifying and enumerating separately 'fishers' as primary producers among the economically active population. These problems arise largely from the seasonal availability of the various fishery resources compounded by the seasonal availability of more lucrative occupations. In many countries the number of people whose only source of income is from a year-round activity in fishing is small compared with the number of people entering the industry at peaks of activity in that industry, or slack periods in a more lucrative industry. For example, fishing is often of major importance in 'under-developed' regions where the other major industry may be tourism. (See FAO Fisheries Circular 929, Revision2). The fishing 'season' may be adapted so that it does not coincide with the peak tourist period from which earnings might well be higher.

Another problem is associated with subsistence fishing which is undertaken on a full-time, part-time, or occasional basis in many developed or developing communities as part of the occupation of the economically-active populations. However, people who are too young, too old to be normally included in the economically active population may be involved in subsistence fishing. These issues are further complicated where subsistence fishing merges with recreational fishing. For example, sports fishers and people owning and operating pleasure craft might try to offset their capital expenditure and running costs through the sale of fish caught during trips of such recreational craft.