Medidas de Gestao das Pescarias Marinhas e Aquicultura 2019 The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2018 | Page 157

THE STATE OF WORLD FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE 2018
BOX 20
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN SUPPORT OF
SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
The rapid spread of ICT has already revolutionized
the fisheries and aquaculture sector, whether for
identifying fishing resources, planning and
monitoring or providing market information
(electronic catch documentation and traceability
systems, price information) (see also “Disruptive
technologies” in Part 4). ICT has also become more
personal through affordable mobile devices that
facilitate safety at sea, spatial planning,
co-management and social networking. It can also
benefit resource-poor stakeholders.
Safety first and early warning
Fishers’ safety during operations or rescue relies
on ICT. Electronic beacons, optionally combined
with automatic identification systems (AIS) or
vessel monitoring systems (VMS), can serve as
safety devices and at the same time provide vessel
activity information.
Mobile phone advisory services provide early
warning information on weather and extreme events and
allow fishers to call for assistance. Social networks can
also be an early warning source for emergencies such
as disease outbreak. Epizootic Ulcerative Syndrome in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, was
first mentioned on SARNISSA (Sustainable Aquaculture
Research Networks in Sub-Saharan Africa), an African
aquaculture stakeholders' mailing list (FAO, 2017q).
Governance
Social media and other Internet-based applications,
which can be accessed using mobile phones and
tablets, can improve access to and sharing of reliable
data such as catch and effort and fisheries
management rules and regulations, thus helping to
empower stakeholders, especially during negotiation
of co-management partnerships. An example is
ABALOBI, an information-management system and
mobile application suite co-developed by academics,
the government and fisher communities in South Africa
to empower small-scale fishers by providing them with
access to and control over information and resource
networks in areas from fishery monitoring and
maritime safety to local development and market
opportunities (Figure 42).
ICTs also support efforts to combat IUU fishing. The
use of global positioning systems (GPS), for example, is
increasing in monitoring, control and surveillance of
fishing through VMS on larger vessels and smaller
tracking devices such as SPOT trackers.
Efficiency
Aquaculture management software allows farmers to
optimize production. New developments include air-
based and aquatic sensors and drones for inspecting
equipment and moorings, monitoring the
environment and fish, and assisting in the
optimization of farm operations.
In fisheries, navigation aids such as GPS make it
possible to mark fishing areas, log trips and plan fuel-
efficient trips. Some vessels use ICT to combine
information from sonar, used to locate fish, sea beds
and underwater debris, with trip reports, providing
new datasets for improved efficiency.
Capacity building and social networking
ICTs have broadened the tools available for capacity
building, especially for isolated or remote
communities. The electronic delivery of extension
services, for example, may complement traditional
fisheries and aquaculture extension systems, allowing
those involved in the sector to obtain information more
easily on modern and sustainable practices along the
supply chain. An example is the Philippines
e-Extension Portal for agriculture, fisheries and natural
resource sectors (http://e-extension.gov.ph). Social
networking can offer workers in small-scale fisheries
and aquaculture opportunities for sharing knowledge
and staying connected to families and social groups,
which is of particular importance when they are out at
sea or need to migrate for fishing/farming activities.
Local knowledge for monitoring change
Easily accessible ICTs offer potential for harnessing
local knowledge of fishing and fish-farming
communities through, for example, citizen science
platforms that enable stakeholders to use smartphones
and websites to share information on changes in their
aquatic environments, such as new species sightings or
habitat loss (see, for example, www.redmap.org.au).
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