Fisheries Dependant Information conference in Rome, Italy this week - What's it all about?

The conference will explore the role of fishers in collecting data, the incorporation of fisher-collected data and knowledge in science, management and policy-making, and the broader role of stakeholders in this process.

•  Data Requirements - data required for evolving policy and management frameworks, such as the ecosystems approach to fisheries (EAF), results-based management, and risk management; requirements for self-evaluation of fisheries governance 



•  Data Collection – observer programs; cooperative research with industry; innovative data collection strategies such as self sampling and reference fleets; Electronic Monitoring systems; ancillary data collection during fishing operations in support of the EAF 



•  Data Integration – integration of multiple and/or increasing sources of data; open-source data repositories and metadata catalogues to support fishery dependent analyses 



•  Data Analysis – evaluation of fishery dependent data, including impacts of fishing on target and bycatch species, on fish communities and habitats, and as indicators for stock condition and distribution; impacts of uncertainty and bias on stock assessments and inclusion of this uncertainty in policy development; selection of appropriate metrics to define fishing effort; evaluation of the effectiveness and impact of increased (or full) catch retention requirements - are essential to the achievement of affordable and sustainable fishing practices”