Integrated Fisheries Information Management System (iFIMS) is a good tool for the operation of Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) according to Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) associates.
Attendees of a PNA training workshop, the first of its kind since the VDS became the management tool for tuna fisheries in PNA waters, discussed the intent, operational procedures and challenges they face while implementing the VDS on the iFIMS.
David Karis, who is the vessel monitoring system (VMS) manager for the National Fisheries Authority of Papua New Guinea, said agencies and government officials in their policy making need to ensure that “our strategic industry partners who in joint collaborative effort put value to the tuna resources are more informed of the smart technologies that we are researching into and incorporating into our work so they too see and appreciate the cost effectiveness and efficiency of systems like the iFIMS — that serves both the regulators (VMS and VDS administrators) and the industry, too.”
Held last month, the workshop brought together representatives from all the fishing operators based within PNA countries, and several fisheries agencies’ representatives. Participants said that IFIMS was also beneficial for the management of other aspects of tuna fisheries management and for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing monitoring components of the fishery and PNAO functions.
The training was organised by parties to the Nauru Agreement Office (PNAO) in partnership with Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority and information management system service provider (QAC) in Manila.
The workshop helped strengthen the partnership among the PNA Office, PNA members and industry to manage the fishery, stated the PNA.
