BLE and TI are institutions under the auspices of BMEL and directly involved in data collection.

The co-ordination of the DCF National Programme was transferred to the Thünen Institute of Sea Fisheries (formerly part of the Federal Research Centre for Fisheries).

Data on landings, effort and fleet characteristics of the fisheries under German flag are collected by the BLE. The BLE also provides IT services (databases, website) within the DCF programme.

The Thünen Institutes of Sea Fisheries and Baltic Sea Fisheries collect biological data by sampling commercial and recreational fisheries and by conducting research surveys at sea. In addition, economic data on the fishing fleet, aquaculture and fish processing industry are being collected.

Fisheries and biological data on diadromous fish are being collected by the Thünen Institute of Fisheries Ecology.