The Net Gains Alliance (NGA) has announced that it is providing funding for at least eight new projects that will, collectively, further spur the modernization of America’s fisheries information system, an effort viewed as critical by industry and fisheries managers alike for further improving overall management and enhancing environmental, social and economic performance. These are in addition to three projects funded in 2019.
“Since our launch last year we have begun investing in multiple data modernization projects across the U.S. that demonstrate the many benefits gained from a modernized, interoperable data backbone,” explained George Chmael II, CEO of Council Fire, the business management and sustainability consultancy directing NGA activity and funding. “Typically, these are projects that span regions or fisheries, build capacity and data literacy, meet a core need identified by fisheries managers or scientists, take pilots to scale, and inform national guidance or actions that smooth paths for broader advancement.”
The new projects cover a wide and fascinating array of data modernization efforts and span regions from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. Caribbean, and New England. They include:
Supporting the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Association to explore a community-centered data management approach in the New England Groundfish Fishery, and develop a pathway for incorporating electronic monitoring data into stock assessments.
Supporting the Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium to map data pathways and build linkages for utilizing electronic and human observer data in the Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish Fishery.
Developing a community data sharing platform in the Western Gulf of Alaska with the Aleutians East Borough, the Peninsula Fishermen’s Coalition, Chordata LLC, and Saltwater Inc.
Enabling CEA Consulting and a steering committee of Archipelago Marine Research, Teem Fish Monitoring, and Integrated Monitoring to create a dialogue among EM service providers around opportunities to advance interoperability, achieve alignment on standards, and develop educational materials supporting effective and affordable EM implementation in the U.S.
Developing resources to help data modernization partners, including NOAA Fisheries, apply data visioning tools and principles that meet their needs.
Partnering with Hemmings House Pictures to produce a data modernization film showcasing successes and the continuing need and opportunity for enhancing fisheries information systems.
Collaborating with Working Oceans Strategies to research and recommend a model regulatory framework to support fisheries technology and innovation.
Supporting Conservacion ConCiencia in the U.S. Caribbean to implement and catalyze the adoption of EM on small vessels that were not previously considered for advanced technology due to high costs and a lack of appropriate monitoring systems.
A more complete description of each project can be found on our Impact page.
Quotes from our partners:
Mote Marine Laboratory “Mote Marine Laboratory is very grateful for the support of the Net Gains Alliance for our electronic monitoring research with Gulf of Mexico snapper-grouper fishery,” said Carole Neidig, Staff Scientist and Program Leader for the Center for Fisheries Electronic Monitoring at Mote (CFEMM). “We have already demonstrated that electronic monitoring can produce valuable data to fill information gaps about our fisheries; now, we must focus on distributing those data where they are needed most. This new partnership will greatly enhance CFEMM’s ability to integrate catch and bycatch data more effectively with fisheries management and the commercial fishing industry, ensuring the long term health of our Gulf fisheries.”
Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Association “Incorporating unbiased electronic monitoring data streams into stock assessments, providing fishermen with timely and simple access to their own data, and streamlining the process for scientists to access fishery data sets is critical to more effective fisheries management,” said Melissa Sanderson, Chief Operating Officer, Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Association. “We hope the project results will not only help provide the best available science to decision-makers but empower fishermen to invest in and leverage the important data they collect at sea.”
Working Ocean Strategies "We are thrilled to be working with NGA to research and develop a model policy framework for technologies in fisheries management that simultaneously and cost-effectively serves all stakeholders in the shared pursuit of financially, socially, and ecologically sustainable fisheries," said Melissa Garren, CEO of Working Ocean Strategies. "It's incredibly important that our national policy frameworks are built to last and can accommodate the rapid advances in technology that are perpetually improving data quality, utility and cost-effectiveness. These technological developments occur on much faster timescales than policies are typically revised."
Hemmings House Pictures “It's vital to tell the story of the ways in which fisheries, oceans and workers can benefit by the sharing of data,” said Greg Hemmings, CEO Hemmings House Pictures. “Better data management has led to positive and sometimes completely unanticipated wins for everyone connected to industries and the environment. Being based in a fishing region on the Atlantic coast, Hemmings House Pictures is excited to be part of the advancement of knowledge for fishers, researchers, and policymakers alike.”
Conservación ConCiencia "Electronic Monitoring efforts are predominantly absent from small-scale fisheries, yet we know that small-scale fisheries contribute substantially to the world’s annual fish harvest, said Raimundo Espinoza- Executive Director Conservación ConCiencia. “Thanks to support from NGA we'll begin to catalyze the adoption of EM in small scale fisheries in the Caribbean."
CEA Consulting “EM has enormous potential to improve fisheries management but use of the tool has grown slowly and covers a small share of fisheries. This is an exciting opportunity for EM service providers to address shared challenges and lift the entire EM market,” said Mark Michelin, Director, CEA Consulting.
Teem Fish Monitoring “As we see increased pressure to reduce Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing globally, the need for 3rd party fisheries monitoring is increasing,” said Amanda Barney, CEO, Teem Fish Monitoring. “We believe that having industry wide standards for electronic monitoring will help increase confidence and adoption of this technology by regulators and fishing sectors around the world.”
Integrated Monitoring “Collaboration on standards is a catalyst for broad adoption of remote video monitoring technology by regulators and industry, and can provide the confidence to invest in hardware and software systems knowing that these will be compatible and supported on an industry-wide basis,” said Josh Weirsma, Integrated Monitoring.