Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

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(text version)

2011 Pilot Project for Lobster Data Collection
Presented to Southern Gulf Lobster Advisory Committee
December 2011
Need for better and more timely lobster data
FRCC Report–importance of the lobster fishery vs. lack of data;
Minister's 2009 announcement (i.e. notice to fish harvesters) on electronic data collection;
Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures (ALSM) program;
Collaboration with different stakeholders to help meet demands for traceability, certification for European Unions IUU, market access (current and new).
National DFO E-Log application
A DFO built application has been developed with the input of harvesters and is in use for various fisheries on the West Coast and in Québec;
A module was developed specifically for the Atlantic Lobster fishery and was piloted in the Québec and Gulf Regions in 2011 with the objective of providing an opportunity for stakeholders to make known their views and expectations so that the application best meet their needs;
Improved efficiency, effectiveness and economies; and
Multi-functional tool able to produce catch and effort reports, as well as the capacity to use the tool for other purposes.
2011 Gulf Region E-Log Pilot Project
Participants:
5 Harvesters from LFA 25 Maritime Fishermen’s Union collected daily effort, catch and by-catch data and transmitted to DFO electronically using the screens shown here.

The application generated reports for harvesters to help in analysing their fishing activities.
2011 Gulf Region E-Log Pilot Project
3 Buyers in LFA 25 collected sales data for 34 harvesters.
1 Buyer tested an e-card reader connected to an e-scale which resulted in time saved for the harvester and the buyer as there was no handwriting required.
2 buyers keyed in the data at the plant using their own computers.
Overall Pilot Project Results
4 of 8 users were proficient with computers while the others were hesitant but within the first week of the fishery, 3 of those 4 said they were comfortable with the technology and the tool;
Overall comments from users is that the application is simple, easy to use with a few exceptions which are now being explored by the programmers in order to improve (i.e. pausing & restarting the application for days not fished, navigating thru fields );
Minor adjustments were made at the start of the season as expected as is the case with most pilot projects as we needed test all aspects of the system. These included communication while at sea, at the wharf and at home, links to a self contained GPS transponder, links to the communication device (rocket stick);
Most of the project participants could see the added benefits of this system and of recording this data and expressed an interest to continue.

Thank-you to the MFU and to all those who contributed and participated in the pilot project!

Thank-you for your attention!