Information Management: Key to the Future

Information Management: Key to the Future

Tuna management officials from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands met in Pohnpei (6-8 February) initiating a joint pilot project to establish enhanced fisheries information management systems in each of their national fisheries administrations.

The joint vision of the group is to have an IMS that will integrate relevant sets of information related to fishing including catch and observer reports, in real time, available at the “press of a button”. The system will be in line with “best practice” utilizing the latest technology to allow fisheries managers to make informed decisions in a timely manner. The IMS will also allow for electronic exchanges on a national and regional basis involving partner agencies and the fishing industry itself.

Spokesperson, Rhea Moss-Christian, commented that much excitement has been generated within the group. “The critical need for enhanced information management systems (IMS) has long been recognized and we are taking the initiative to jointly mobilize resources for the formulation of a pilot project that we hope will pave the way for other small island countries that are highly dependent on tuna resources. We envision that the IMS will fundamentally change how information supports the achievement of national fisheries management goals.”

The group completed a scoping exercise for the first phase of development and anticipates that other FFA member countries as well as the regional agencies will also benefit from the initiative.

The workshop also included representatives from the regional fisheries bodies FFA, SPC and WCPFC. The workshop was facilitated by Mr Nesh Petrovic of Taz-E Australia and funding support for the workshop was provided by the DevFishII program and the FSM’s National Oceanic Resource Management Authority.