The Multistate Aquatic Resources Information System (MARIS) is a six-state cooperative pilot project to make accessible, via a common, internet-based application, selected fish population survey data from each of the cooperating states. MARIS states include Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. These states have developed a statewide fisheries survey database containing information on relative or absolute abundance of fish species, morphometry, location, and water chemistry in selected lakes. Each state will maintain authority and responsibility for it's own database, but will support internet access through a defined set of summary queries and reports. The Fish and Wildlife Information Exchange Division provides administrative and contracting support, metadata development support, and development support to the MARIS initiative