The role of data quality in reconciling fisheries with conservation

ANA M. PARMA

Vancouver

Congreso; Fourth World Fisheries Congress; 2004

American Fisheries Society

Fisheries around the world face very contrasting situations in terms of the quality of data available to inform management decisions. On one extreme are data-poor fisheries, where lack of data tends to be accompanied by a number of structural attributes, such as small scale, spatial heterogeneity and poor enforceability of regulations, all of which collectively pose management challenges well beyond those resulting from data limitations (Parma et al. 2003). Most coastal fisheries fit in this category; here the mismatch between the reality of the fishery (in terms of data availability as well as biological and social attributes) and the conceptual models underlying conventional stock assessments and management is most evident. On the other extreme are some data-rich industrial fisheries, regularly assessed by highly complex statistical models that integrate different sources of fishery-dependent and independent data. Even in these situations, the demand for good-quality data does not seem to be satisfied, as we become more aware of the limitations of stock assessment methods and as concerns about fishing impacts extend beyond the target species to include broader ecosystem issues. The importance of good-quality data for making informed management decisions is undeniable. However, what is needed is not just quality data but quality information, a broader perspective that was emphasized throughout this session of the 4th World Fisheries Congress.