Transcript TDW-10 - The Use Of Data In Fisheries Management Final Rev

The use of
Data in Fisheries
Management
Tuna Data Workshop
April 2016
SPC, Noumea
A long story short …
From this workshop, you might think data is collected
to fulfil WCPFC obligations, but ..
 SPC/FFA members decided to collect data a few
decades ago
 So, Regional standards were developed …
 To monitor and assess shared
highly migratory fish stocks, &
fleet activities
What is fisheries data
used for?
To answer the basic questions:
 Who is fishing... domestic fleet, foreign fleet, artisanal
 How are fish being fished?… gear, method, seine net, spear
 When does fishing take place?… seasonal, day/night, time
 Where is fishing occurring?… coastal, EEZ, high seas
 What species are being caught?… yellow bellied sea-snake
 Why do people fish?... food, money, fun … beat Shelton in a comp

What is fisheries data
used for?
Three broad areas:
 Science and research
 Set catch and/or effort limits
 Develop management framework
legislation, regulations, policy
MCS programmes
Science and Research
Stock assessments
 Effects of fishing on the fish stock
 Past and current status of the stock
 Predictions / projections - how a stock will respond
to current and potential management measures
 Provides information to set catch/effort limits
Science and Research
Fishery dynamics
 Fishery characterisation
 Effects of fishing on Marine ecosystem
Associated species – bycatch, special interest spp
Environmental health/degradation
 Environmental influence on fish stocks
habitat availability, primary production
Climate change
Oceanography, SST, SSH, salinity
Setting fishery targets
Setting targets help to achieve management
objectives, such as …
 Sustainability
 Avoid or reduce overfishing
 Maintain stock health
 Optimise/maximise economic benefits
 Ensure food security
 Promote domestic / onshore development
Setting fishery targets
Use relevant information to set targets –
input/output controls
;
 Input - Effort limits
hooks, sets, days, no. and size of vessels, gear
 Outputs – catch limits
no. or volume of fish, species, fish size
 Other targets – e.g. reducing impact on other spp.
Setting fishery targets
Use relevant information to set targets
;
 Biological – stock status, bycatch interactions
 Other impacts – plastics, crew OHS, land based
infrastructure/resources
 Economics – vessel profitability, GDP, employment
 Trade and market – supply and demand, prices,
certification
 Social – negative social impacts, public perception,
role of women in the community
Management
Develop and implement regulatory frameworks
International Obligations / Agreements
UNCLOS, UNFSA, IPOA, Code of conduct and
guidelines
RFMO Conventions, Conservation and
Management Measures
Regional/subregional arrangements
FFA, PNA, MSG, TVM
National: Fisheries Act, regulations,
management plans, policies, MCS programmes
Management
Improve decision making processes
Evaluate and respond to fishery responses
Improve data reliability and accuracy of info
about fishery health and performance
Review objectives and desired outputs
Evaluate effectiveness of management tools
Stakeholder engagement and cooperation
Public accountability and awareness on fishery
performance
Who uses
fisheries data?
Fisheries management authorities i.e. Govts,
RFMO’s
Industry – harvest, processing, exporters
Academics - Scientists and researchers
NGO’s – environmental groups, fishing
associations, fisher associations etc
Markets
The general public