The Irish Sea data-enhancement project: comparison of self-sampling and national data-collection programmes—results and experiences

Abstract

Hoare, D., Graham, N., and Schön, P-J. 2011. The Irish Sea data-enhancement project: comparison of self-sampling and national data-collection programmes—results and experiences. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1778–1784. The Irish Sea Data Enhancement Pilot (ISDEP) was initiated by the UK and Irish fishing sectors, with the objective of improving the precision of commercial catch data (landings and discards) from vessels engaged in demersal trawling in the Irish Sea (ICES Division VIIa). The programme was supported by the Irish and UK Governments and managed by national laboratories. The experience of establishing and managing such a programme, including logistical, data-quality, and participation issues, is discussed. By contrasting with parallel national programmes, it is shown that the new data are robust and have improved precision. Experience has also shown that it is preferable to involve a few vessels in providing frequent samples, but that positive incentives are needed to maintain the participation.

Collection and validation of self-sampled e-logbook data in a Mediterranean demersal trawl fishery

“…At the same time, it would be possible to increase the range of variables to be collected. Indeed, other experiences in participatory sampling showed that fishers can efficiently self-sample length frequency distributions of the catches as well as assess discards (Hoare et al, 2011;Roman et al, 2011;Kraan et al, 2013).…”

“…A major problem in the use of self-sampled data for management purposes is related to the fact that fishermen self-sampling remains to be considered by some scientists and managers as lacking rigor, and potentially biased by misreporting (Hoare et al, 2011;Kraan et al, 2013). Fishermen are usually not keen on sharing their own data, because they fear it could be used as evidence for enforcing restrictions in their activities (Kraan et al, 2013).…”

Real‐time spatial management approaches to reduce bycatch and discards: experiences from Europe and the United States

“…Alterative monitoring and enforcement tools might include self‐sub sampling (Hoare et al . ) and remote electronic monitoring (McElderry ; Kindt‐Larsen et al . ).…”

“…The physical presence of observers may not always be a necessary condition, given the expense and (occasional) reliability issues of at-sea observers. Alterative monitoring and enforcement tools might include self-sub sampling (Hoare et al 2011) and remote electronic monitoring (McElderry 2008;Kindt-Larsen et al 2011).…”

Progress in designing and delivering effective fishing industry–science data collection in the UK

“…The fishing industry, however, offers a unique opportunity to help fisheries and marine environment monitoring requirements. Case studies on fisheries-dependent data (Hoare, Graham, & Schon, 2011;Lordan, Cuaig, Graham, & Rihan, 2011;Pennington & Helle, 2011;Roman, Jacobson, & Cadrin, 2011;Sampson, 2011;Uhmann, Bierman, & van Helmond, 2011) show that the fishing industry can play a central role in addressing data gaps across many fisheries. Experiences from the UK involving the fishing industry in the commissioning and implementation of fishery science projects indicate that fishers have a keen interest in helping provide data that may avert unnecessary precautionary measures being implemented (Armstrong, Payne, Deas, & Catchpole, 2013).…”