FAD and reef fisheries e-monitoring in Vanuatu and Fiji with TAILS : Kadavu data collection program COASTAL FISHERIES workshop/28/11/17/NOUMEA

AIM Fishers association requested assistance to collect data, the Ministry was keen to support this request and worked with SPC to implement the FAD and reef fishery monitoring projects. The key aims of the project are: Understand the impact of FADs deployed by MoF and SPC in Kadavu. Assist the fishers in familiarising themselves with the new data collection technique using tablet and the benefits of collecting data. Collect background information on the kadavu fishers catch effort. To understand the impacts of our inshore MPAs and options for management. Worth noting that similar projects

METHODOLOGY From the 1 week training that was conducted by SPC introducing the data collection method using TAILS on TABLETS. 9 data collectors were trained by SPC on how to work on this new database and identify fish using FAO codes. The data collectors will collect data from their different collection sites and upload data into the TAILS database. If there is no internet signal the information is stored on the tablet and uploaded later. Tablets are topped up remotely so no need to buy cards and unlikely to run out of credit. Worth talking about the tablet top-ups which work well and also the ability to store on the tablet for areas where there is no mobile signal.

Communication With data collectors Correcting errors and trouble shooting issues The advances in mobile communications, which this project has taken advantage of, has meant that the MoF and SPC staff and data collectors can be in daily contact from day one of the project starting The use of Facebook messenger has been a great innovation in this project. It has allowed real time communication with the data monitors to correct errors and trouble shoot their issues as SPC staff have live access to both the data and facebook messenger. Messenger has also meant that we can cut down the time in feeding back the data to the collector the analysis. It has also meant that they tell us about what the weather has been like and even send us pictures! The pictures are very useful when they are not sure of the species of fish. And weather data also helps us in the analysis such as when trying to understand why no boats went fishing or why catches were poor. Feeding data back to the team of collectors in the communities Telling us about the weather and sharing pictures

Outputs: An amazing amount of data has been collected so far, with one of the sites providing a log of fishing activity every single day since the training! This poster is really important in feeding the data back to the communities and fishers who provide the data. This data feedback is a key commitment of the project. This data, if requested, can be disaggregated to village or even fisher level. It is worth noting that other countries are also collecting ‘tails’ based data and both Vanuatu and Ra province have similar projects to Kadavu to use tails to monitor FADs and reef fishing activity. As more data is collected over the next 18 months we will start to analyze it in more detail, but for now the data collected is looking great 

The project is running extremely well so far, with some minor issues. Poor Digicel coverage on two of the sites. There have not been any issues with the data collectors using the tablets though. We chose Digicel for Kadavu as it had the best coverage and most straightforward top-up procedures but on two sites the digicel coverage is poor, we may have to switch to Vodaphone

REACTION FROM COMMUNITIES No language or cultural barrier The community fishers are quick to respond to the collectors as they do know each other well, they understand the language even most are related. Collectors can ask interview questions at their own dialect where the fisher can respond effectively. The collector and fisher can have a good discussion based on names of the fishing ground and the local names of fish,BDM and other invertebrate species.

WIDER BENEFITS TO COMMUNITIES AND FIJI AS A WHOLE Community fishers can calculate their cost associated per fishing trip. Fishers can find out the areas where they need to improve on to increase their profit and assist them in sustaining their fishing business. Ministry of fisheries can also indicate the areas where they need to assist the fishers better to improve their catch effort and income. Help identify areas where catches are decreasing and possibly need management. The Ministry of Fisheries will have additional data to allow them to better calculate the contribution of coastal fisheries to Fiji’s annual GDP and elevate the importance of coastal fisheries.

Thank you and any questions