Data is a crucial element of fisheries management. Lack of data can contribute to misunderstood stock and inappropriate management, leading to stocks being under or overharvested. To ensure the quality and credibility of data gathered, it is therefore essential to make sure that data collectors have the right skills, tools and knowledge to gather information accurately and effectively.

At the regional level, the GEF/UNDP/PEMSEA ATSEA-2 Project has been contributing to the improvement of fisheries management for four red snapper species (saddletail snapper, crimson snapper, red emperor and goldband) through the implementation of a regional Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (EAFM) plan.

This regional plan highlights stock sustainability, noting that, with the exception of Australia, stocks in the Arafura and Timor Seas (ATS ) region are either being overfished (Indonesia) or are relatively unknown (Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste). The plan recommends harmonisation of data collection, stock assessments, harvest strategies and monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) across ATS jurisdictions. This confirms the need for reliable data collection, to better understand the current stock status and develop plans for adaptive management.

From 9-11 March 2022, fisheries enumerator training was held at the ATSEA-2 RPMU office in Bali, Indonesia. Four fisheries enumerators and a fisheries scientist from the Centre for Fisheries Research (CFR) and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) of Indonesia also joined the training, which provided a combination of theoretical and practical sessions. The training was led by Mr. Kamaluddin Kasim Suprapto from CFR; a fish taxonomist, who expounded on how to differentiate red snapper target species and identify gonad maturation stages. Mr. Kamaluddin also shared the findings from a year’s worth of data collected by the fisheries enumerators and stressed the importance of good data as a basis of policymaking, reminding them they should work to avoid what he referred to as “garbage in, garbage out.”

“I hope I can use the new knowledge to further improve my work,” said Mr. Budiono, a fisheries enumerator from Merauke who was selected as the best trainee. He expressed his gratitude for the training opportunity and confirmed it was a moment that would live long in the memory: “this is the first time I have visited Bali and it will be a precious memory, both for personal and professional reasons,” he said.

The second day of training offered more practical advice. It began with a ‘Tragedy of the Common’  game that refers to a paper written by biologist Garret Hardin in 1968; fisheries are similar to Hardin’s pasture, in that increased fishing pressure has caused certain stocks of fish to become over fished, to a point where fisheries’ survival is under threat. All the conditions described by Hardin are met in this case: an unrestricted number of users, unfettered by any limits to their access, extracting an increasing share until natural resources are severely depleted. Fishers tend to have little incentive to practice conservation, for they know that if they do not catch the available fish, someone else probably will .

Through the game, participants competed with each other and learned how to manage limited resources. Afterwards, Mr. Suprapto led the sampling session, in which he explained how to measure the length and weight of the sampled fish and dissect samples to show where to find the gonad and determine the maturation stage. After lunch, Ms. Deti Triani from the ATSEA-2 RPMU reintroduced the KoboToolbox. The training also involved a visit to the Kedonganan Fish Market, where participants tested their skills of fish identification and then enjoyed a delicious dinner.

On the final day, participants practised gathering data with the KoboToolbox and provided inputs on how to improve the data form. Their feedback was compiled by Mr. Kasim, who then adapted the data forms accordingly. Ms. Tania then demonstrated how to access the sent data in the KoboToolbox dashboard, conducting simple data analysis through the KoboToolbox website and Microsoft Excel Pivot Table.

Part of the wider EAFM planning process, the ATSEA-2 training supports development of a comprehensive regional EAFM plan for red snapper fisheries in the ATS region. ATSEA-2 will address factors that have constrained sustainable fisheries management in the ATS countries, including overfishing, destruction of natural habitats and illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. This will be accomplished through the implementation and adoption of comprehensive and integrated ecosystem-based approaches to natural resource management and conservation at the national and regional levels.

From 9-11 March 2022, fisheries enumerator training was held at the ATSEA-2 RPMU office in Bali, Indonesia. Four fisheries enumerators and a fisheries scientist from the Centre for Fisheries Research (CFR) and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF) of Indonesia also joined the training, which provided a combination of theoretical and practical sessions. The training was led by Mr. Kamaluddin Kasim Suprapto from CFR; a fish taxonomist, who expounded on how to differentiate red snapper target species and identify gonad maturation stages. Mr. Kamaluddin also shared the findings from a year’s worth of data collected by the fisheries enumerators and stressed the importance of good data as a basis of policymaking, reminding them they should work to avoid what he referred to as “garbage in, garbage out.”

“I hope I can use the new knowledge to further improve my work,” said Mr. Budiono, a fisheries enumerator from Merauke who was selected as the best trainee. He expressed his gratitude for the training opportunity and confirmed it was a moment that would live long in the memory: “this is the first time I have visited Bali and it will be a precious memory, both for personal and professional reasons,” he said.

The second day of training offered more practical advice. It began with a ‘Tragedy of the Common’  game that refers to a paper written by biologist Garret Hardin in 1968; fisheries are similar to Hardin’s pasture, in that increased fishing pressure has caused certain stocks of fish to become over fished, to a point where fisheries’ survival is under threat. All the conditions described by Hardin are met in this case: an unrestricted number of users, unfettered by any limits to their access, extracting an increasing share until natural resources are severely depleted. Fishers tend to have little incentive to practice conservation, for they know that if they do not catch the available fish, someone else probably will.

Through the game, participants competed with each other and learned how to manage limited resources. Afterwards, Mr. Suprapto led the sampling session, in which he explained how to measure the length and weight of the sampled fish and dissect samples to show where to find the gonad and determine the maturation stage. After lunch, Ms. Deti Triani from the ATSEA-2 RPMU reintroduced the KoboToolbox. The training also involved a visit to the Kedonganan Fish Market, where participants tested their skills of fish identification and then enjoyed a delicious dinner.

On the final day, participants practised gathering data with the KoboToolbox and provided inputs on how to improve the data form. Their feedback was compiled by Mr. Kasim, who then adapted the data forms accordingly. Ms. Tania then demonstrated how to access the sent data in the KoboToolbox dashboard, conducting simple data analysis through the KoboToolbox website and Microsoft Excel Pivot Table.

Part of the wider EAFM planning process, the ATSEA-2 training supports development of a comprehensive regional EAFM plan for red snapper fisheries in the ATS region. ATSEA-2 will address factors that have constrained sustainable fisheries management in the ATS countries, including overfishing, destruction of natural habitats and illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. This will be accomplished through the implementation and adoption of comprehensive and integrated ecosystem-based approaches to natural resource management and conservation at the national and regional levels.

(by Casandra Tania)