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During 27-30 October 2014 the Directorate General of Capture Fisheries of Indonesia (DGCF) received assistance from the IOTC-OFCF Project to organize a Data Collection Workshop for the Provincial Authorities of Bali and Jawa Timur. The Workshop was opened by Mr Koichi Sakonju, Project Manager of the IOTC-OFCF Project. Fourteen staff from various district offices in Bali and Jawa Timur attended the Workshop, including enumerators, data input staff, and supervisors.
The training course and practical sessions were conducted by Mrs Diah Retnowati and Mr Muhammad Anas from the DGCF, Dr Anung Widodo from the Research Centre for Fisheries Monitoring and Conservation (RCFMC) of Indonesia, and Mr Miguel Herrera from the IOTC Secretariat. The main objective of the Workshop was to improve the data collection and monitoring activities in each of the two provinces, with a view to improve the quality of catch estimates for IOTC species, sharks, and other species of interest to Indonesia. In addition, Mr Craig Proctor, from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), provided valuable assistance in the species identification sessions.
The Workshop focused on data collection and, in particular, the identification of tuna and tuna-like species at the landing place. Following an introduction to the IOTC species and the main characteristics used to identify each species, the trainees’ skills were tested in two species ID practical sessions, which included identification of 26 specimens of tunas and related species (11 species overall). The trainees were also asked to measure the lengths of specimens using various measuring tools, and assessed on the accuracy of their measurements.
Despite a clear improvement in species ID following the training exercises, only 47% of the specimens were properly identified by the trainees. Improving skills in species identification is essential to ensuring the accuracy of future catch reports from Indonesia, and the DGCF of Indonesia will need to work hard in the future to continue to strengthen its data collection system.
The implementation of sampling at the landing place to attain the minimum sampling coverage levels recommended by the IOTC is also a priority. The DGCF is currently receiving assistance from the Bay of Bengal Large Marine Ecosystems Project and the IOTC-OFCF Project for the implementation of pilot sampling activities in North and West Sumatra. This activity will provide the DGCF with a blueprint of sampling protocols to be implemented in landing places in North and West Sumatra and other provinces in the Indian Ocean in the near future.
The Workshop is the second of a series of Data Collection Workshops that the DGCF is implementing in Indonesia, with the assistance of the IOTC-OFCF Project. While the involvement of the IOTC Secretariat was high during the first Workshop, conducted in West Sumatra, the DGCF and the RCFMC covered part of the materials at the Bali and Jawa-Timur Workshop. Their role is expected to increase as future workshops are organized, and eventually to take full responsibility for the organization of these events.
