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The coastal and off-shore fishery in Sri Lanka is rather complex due to its multi-gear, multi-craft and multi-species nature. Collection of independent and dependent fisheries data is therefore a challenging practice in Sri Lanka. This paper discusses the available data collection and management systems viz., the Port Sampling Program (PSP), Log Books (LB), Observer Program (OP) and Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) and on-going process to upgrade the existing PSP under Norway-Sri Lanka bi-lateral project.
The PSP is a manually adopted offline process, from the collection of data at the landing sites to the entering data to the database, PELAGOS. Therefore, there is an essential requirement of improving the current PSP by incorporating Information and Communication Technology (ICT). It is being supported by Norway-Sri Lanka bi-lateral project, started in 2016 and to be completed in 2022. The main objectives of the working package I , a sub component of the project, are to upgrade the existing PSP and setting up a Central Database (CDb) for fisheries data collected via PSP.
The first step of the WP I was to review the past work done on this topic and explore the current status of the existing data collection process and database management system. Consequently, gaps, weaknesses and other issues associated with the current process and the system were identified. Secondly, a baseline survey was conducted to collect such data associated with the landing sites as number of fishermen, fish species caught, boat types, gear types, seasonality of fisheries, fishing times etc. The data from the baseline survey were explored and processed in order to create upgraded data collection forms, developing a new sampling design and developing a mobile data collection application, which is to be incorporated with Electronic Mobile Devices (EMDs) and the CDb.
By now, the project has reached to several milestones. An upgraded version of the manual port sampling data recording forms has been completed and made available. A mobile application for electronic data collection and an improved sampling design are being completed. It is expected to start parallel test data collection using both manual data forms the electronic tabs followed by a careful validation process before the end of this year. The collection of data with the improved PSP is expected to be implemented from the next year, 2020.
Establishment of an upgraded PSP for the collection and management of fisheries data with the application of modern ICT remarkably enhances the efficiency of data collection and the quality of fisheries statistics enabling much improved processing and analysis capabilities of fisheries data. Further, it increases the accuracy of catch estimates, enabling the submission of more reliable catch and effort data in compliance with the resolutions adopted by the international bodies such as IOTC.
