Regional Observer Coordinators Workshop ROCW2009

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Regional Observer Coordinators Workshop
(ROCW-2009) 16-23 September 2009, Noumea, New
Caledonia
Potential future arrangements for observer data
management
Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP) Secretariat
of the Pacific Community (SPC)
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Presentation Outline

• CMM 2008-01 monitoring requirements
• ... ramifications to observer programmes
• SC5 paper
• TCC5 papers
• Probable scenario for observer data management
  (short term)
• What should you do in the short term ?
• What are the major problems you envisage in your
  country ?

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Observer programmes Relevant text in CMM 2008-01

• Monitoring
• Para 28. Purse seine vessels fishing within the
  area bounded by 20N and 20S exclusively on the
  high seas, on the high seas and in waters under
  the jurisdiction of one or more coastal States,
  or vessels fishing in waters under the
  jurisdiction of two or more coastal States, shall
  carry effective 1 January 2010, an observer from
  the Commissions Regional Observer Programme
  (ROP).
• Ramifications
• Effectively, 100 observer coverage for the
  tropical purse seine fishery...
• The ROP relies on the national observer
  programmes...
• Therefore, a significant increase in costs and
  resources needed for data collection and data
  management in national observer programmes

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CMM 2008-01 - Ramifications for Observer Data
Management

• Dealt with in the following recent papers
• WCPFC-SC5-2009/ST-WP-09 Regional Observer
  Programme Data Administration and Management
  options
• WCPFC-TCC5-2009/08 Estimated Costs of Observer
  Data Management Options
• WCPFC-TCC5-2009/07 Annual Report Regional
  Observer Programme

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WCPFC-SC5-2009/ST-WP-09 Regional Observer
Programme Data Administration and Management
options

• This paper, written by the WCPFC Secretariat
  following advice from the IWG-ROP, reviewed
  issues, including costs, associated with options
  for the administration and management of observer
  data and information associated with the Regional
  Observer Programme (ROP), focussing on a
  comparison of costs associated with the following
  three data hosting options
• Current arrangements with SPC at Noumea, New
  Caledonia (MOST EXPENSIVE)
• Data entry and hosting at SPCs offices at Suva,
  Fiji (LEAST EXPENSIVE)
• Data entry and hosting at the Commission
  Secretariat office (MIDDLE)
• Outcome Passed on to TCC5 ...

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WCPFC-SC5-2009/ST-WP-09 Regional Observer
Programme Data Administration and Management
options

It also provided some useful base information for
determining other options for managing observer
data... ESTIMATED TRIPS TO BE COVERED BY
GEAR TYPE
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WCPFC-SC5-2009/ST-WP-09 Regional Observer
Programme Data Administration and Management
options
Estimated number of staff required to enter
observer data based on required coverage rates.

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WCPFC-TCC5-2009/08 Estimated Costs of Observer
Data Management Options

• This paper, written by the WCPFC Secretariat, is
  a result of further review, taking into account
  the following SC5 suggestions...
• SC5 suggested that further costing options could
  also be considered for each location where
  applicable
• SPC for all national programmes as service
  provider to the WCPFC/ROP (cost borne by WCPFC)
  and FFA Secretariat for the sub-regional
  programmes
• SPC on behalf of member countries (no cost to
  WCPFC), the FFA Secretariat for the sub-regional
  observer programmes, and SPC as service provider
  to the WCFPC/ROP for some national programme data
  (cost borne by WCPFC)
• SPC on behalf of member countries (no cost to
  WCPFC), and the FFA Secretariat for sub-regional
  observer programmes. Note No data entry by SPC
  as the Commissions data service provider.

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WCPFC-TCC5-2009/08 Estimated Costs of Observer
Data Management Options

Estimated costs for the six options...
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WCPFC-TCC5-2009/08 Estimated Costs of Observer
Data Management Options

Conclusion Para 36. It is clear that the ROP
represents a significant investment in improving
the acquisition of scientific data and other
information for WCPO tuna fisheries and
monitoring the implementation of the Commissions
conservation and management measures... Para 37.
It will also be important to ensure that data is
processed in a timely manner, is verified and
consolidated in a common database for subsequent
use by the Commission. The investment in the
acquisition of the data will be undermined if
robust data administration and management systems
and procedures are not adhered to. ... More
thought is required before a decision is made
possibly a comprehensive consultancy looking at
costs as other important aspects of observer data
management ...
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WCPFC-TCC5-2009/07 Annual Report Regional
Observer Programme

Data and monitoring requirements of the
Commissions CMMs Para 18. Now that data is
starting to flow for the ROP, CCMs need to give
priority consideration to data assimilation,
administration, verification, quality assurance,
security, storage and dissemination. The ROP
represents a significant investment that,
appropriately managed, can make a major
contribution to improving information for the
monitoring and management of WCPO tuna fisheries,
including the assessment of the status of target
and non-target stocks, and monitoring compliance
with the Commissions conservation and management
measures. It is important that the return on this
investment be maximized by ensuring effective and
efficient data administration and management.
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Potential scenario for observer data management
in the short term (i.e. next 1-2 years)

• Most likely scenario is to maintain the status
  quo, then slowly evolve...
• FFA continue to have responsibility for
  sub-regional programmes
• Developed-country CCMs continue to manage the
  data from their programmes (e.g. US, Aust, NZ)
• SPC continue to process data on behalf of
  member-country national observer programmes ...
• ...but some national programmes start to use the
  TUBs database system to manage their own data

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Potential scenario for observer data management
in the mid-term (i.e. within 2-5 years)

• Evolving situation ...
• National programmes progressively become more
  independent in managing their own data with TUBS
  ...
• ... SPC takes on the role of providing technical
  support of TUBs for their member countries ...
• Electronic observer data recording is tested and
  reviewed...

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Potential scenario for observer data management
in the longer-term (i.e. 5 years)

• Evolving situation ...
• Electronic observer data recording implemented on
  a large-scale ...

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Observer data management resource
requirements Some key information

• One dedicated data entry staff will work for an
  estimated 200 days per year
• An experienced data entry operator with good
  typing skills can enter one purse seine trip in
  1.5-2 days. An inexperienced data entry operator
  can take up to 3-4 days to enter a purse seine
  trip.
• There will need to be at least one technical
  person with expert observer data knowledge always
  available to support the data entry staff.

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Observer data management resource
requirements Some key information (cont.)

• There will need to be a technical (database)
  person available to support the database system.
• An unexperienced, unskilled and/or unmotivated
  data entry operator can be potentially worse than
  not entering the data at all (...bad data can not
  be used !)
• Countries already comfortably entering logsheets
  and other fishery data would be well placed to
  expand their data management to cover observer
  data entry

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Problems with observer data management What
should you do in the short term ?

• Determine the potential burden that increased
  observer coverage will put on your programme
  (with SPC/FFA assistance)
• How many staff are needed (data entry, training,
  management and technical)
• Infrastructure costs
• Funds for equipment, etc. (computers, scanners,
  storage space)
• Funds for training
• Etc.
• Decisions on whether to process data or outsource
  to SPC ?
• Can you afford to process data ? (see 1. above)
• Perhaps a staged approach over time ...
• Develop a realistic, clear plan and approach you
  senior management to make them aware of the
  problem
• Brief your representatives to WCPFC meetings
  (e.g. TCC) highlighting the problems that will be
  faced ...

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Observer data management

Discussion What problems do you envisage in
your country with respect to observer data
management ? Which scenario do you envisage
will occur in the future ?