Self-reporting data collection project for the pelagic longline fishery based in La Reunion

Overexploitation of target and bycatch species in marine capture fisheries is the most widespread and direct driver of degradation of marine communities and loss of global marine biodiversity. Logbook data in general covered only the part of the catch landed to be commercialized. Observer programs can be difficult to implement depending on the size of fishing boats and present several constraints leading to inferences biases. In this context, IRD with the cooperation of the CAP RUN launched in 2011, a self-reporting of exhaustive catch and effort data for the pelagic longline fishery based in Reunion Island. The aim of this project is to increase the coverage level of the fishing activity of all longliners of the fleet in terms of fishing effort and spatial distribution. The project is undertaken with the financial support of the “Data Collection Framework” program of the European Union. It is based on financial motivations of collaborative fishermen. The selection of data to be collected corresponds to a compromise between data reported by observers, fisher‟s knowledge and availability for data reporting. Information collected concerns the fishing activity, commercialized catch, discards and interactions between the gear and pelagic resources. In 2011 and 2012, 127 and 398 fishing operations were self-reported. The interest of this kind of project is discussed.