Papua New Guinea’s National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has unveiled a new initiative to implement a state-of-the-art electronic catch documentation system (eCDS) for onboard fisheries observers.
The Marshall Islands have also joined the initiative.
The eCDS engages the use of near real-time data input through the use of Android tablets and satellite transmitters and is expected to revolutionise the quality, integrity, reliability, and timeliness of critical fisheries information. The new system includes electronic forms which can be used to cross reference and validate catch and effort and will assist in NFA’s goals to be paperless. The system also provides the observer with their own independent source of two-way communication back to shore, including SOS location tracking in the case of an emergency.
This is truly revolutionary for this region and exemplifies the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) members’ progressive and proactive attitude toward achieving sustainability of the region’s highly lucrative and socially important tuna fisheries. We are proud to have contributed to this project and the success of the PNA, stated Bubba Cook, of the WWF Smart Fishing Initiative. WWF contributed funding to purchase the equipment used for the observer eCDS system.
Quick Access Computing (QAC) Pty Ltd, an Australian technology firm, has been working with NFA in the design of the system that allows an Android tablet to transmit fisheries catch information and other important data directly to regional and national databases through a satellite transmitter. Traditionally, this data is delivered through a paper based system and may be delayed by months or even years before becoming available for review and analysis, leaving a substantial lag in availability of information that is important to management decisions. The new system will vastly improve the accuracy and timeliness of data available for managers.
The new system also stands to significantly reduce the costs of data collection by automating data review processes and eliminating the need for shore side data entry personnel. By using a tablet system that incorporates very clear data entry standards and forms, there is no longer a need for additional personnel to decipher and re-enter data from handwritten paper observer log sheets that results in misinterpretations and errors. It also eliminates the potential of information being lost or damaged by storing the information both locally on the tablet as well as remotely through satellite transmission, unlike paper forms which must pass through several hands by mail before reaching their final destination.
There are currently discussions being held with other Pacific Island Countries to expand the initiative and technology to other PNA member states as well as other independent countries of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean region.
Mercator Media Ltd 2014