An unlikely partnership: fishers’ participation in a small-scale fishery data collection program in the Timor Sea

Abstract

Traditional fisheries stock assessment methods and fishery independent surveys are costly and time consuming exercises. However fishers trained in data collection and utilising other skills can reduce costs and improve fishery assessments and management. A data collection program was conducted by Australian and Indonesian scientists with small-scale Indonesian sea cucumber fishers to evaluate the approach and then capture its benefits. The data fishers recorded allowed for the first stock assessment of this trans-boundary fishery during its centuries-long existence at Scott Reef in northwestern Australia. The program also included interviews with fishers capturing the social, economic, and demographic aspects of the fishery. Economic inputs to fishing were complemented by fishery revenue data voluntarily submitted when fishers returned to port and sold their catch. Catch data recorded by fishers demonstrated much higher abundances than estimates obtained using standard visual transect methods and accurately reflected the true catch composition. However, they also showed extreme rates of exploitation. Interviews revealed social and economic factors that would be important considerations if management interventions were made. The program's approach and the time scientists spent on the fishers' vessels were key ingredients to fishers' participation and the utility of the results. Despite the program's achievements the information generated has not led to improved management or had any direct benefits for the participants. Sustaining the program in the longer term requires that its value is better captured.

Fisheries Sanctuary Planning in Practice: Lesson Learnt From Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management in North Kalimantan Province

“…An ethnobiology is one of potential approach to strengthen local wisdom using scientific method, it will ensure an effective and efficient fisheries management based on community initiative (Oktaviani et al, 2016). Prescott et al (2016) found that a strong engagement with fishers has benefit for effective monitoring of the resources. It also realized the hidden and valuable information from the fishers to the fisheries that enriched the scientific findings and minimize the uncertainty.…”

Opportunities to improve fisheries management through innovative technology and advanced data systems

“…Fishers viewed annual decreases to their total allowable catch as putative and unnecessary, leading to controversy and feelings of distrust between fishery stakeholders (Verweij et al., ). Feedback, communication and agreed‐upon standards for information use and processing may alleviate some of the conflict that can arise as a result of differences in perception and/or interpretation of data (Prescott et al., ; Verweij et al., ), but perception differences may persist.…”

“…Feedback, communication and agreed-upon standards for information use and processing may alleviate some of the conflict that can arise as a result of differences in perception and/or interpretation of data (Prescott et al, 2016;Verweij et al, 2010), but perception differences may persist.…”

“…To meet the needs and transparency expectations of all involved, most new fishery‐dependent data technologies will need to incorporate feedback mechanisms to grant fishers access to near real‐time fishery‐relevant information streams and to ensure that the fishing industry is benefiting from its data collection effort. Fishers participating in fishery data collection programs have noted that receiving feedback about collected data is necessary to maintain interest and participation (Prescott, Riwu, Stacey, & Prasetyo, ). This can be accomplished through information‐sharing programs that use near real‐time fishery‐dependent data collection tools to effectively expand data access to all user groups (Jensen, ; Salia, Nsowah‐Nuamah, & Steel, ; Saville et al., ).…”

Towards deeper collaboration: stories of Indigenous interests, aspirations, partnerships and leadership in aquatic research and management

“…Both IEK and SK were used to help Indigenous Nyul Nyul rangers respond to threats to the health of wetlands and to monitor their condition. Prescott et al (2016) describe a collaborative research project with traditional Indonesian fishers of trepang around Scott Reef in north-western Australia. This project worked with fishers who provided catch data that facilitated more accurate monitoring than data collected independently of the fishers.…”