50. The experts discussed the applicability of the FAO Guidelines for Routine Capture Fishery Data Collection in relation to their respective national efforts towards improving the collection of capture fishery data. The Guidelines are intended to serve as an aid for the designing and implementing routine data collection programmes and not as a manual of methods and procedures.
51. The Guidelines contain a wish list which provides a structural approach in understanding why data are collected, what data need to be collected, and how data are collected, managed and reported. The Guidelines needed to be developed to be management-friendly and structured in such a way that managers at all levels can use them directly as guide in developing their data collection programmes.
52. Specifically, the Guidelines aim to assist governments and fisheries management authorities to undertake routine data collection and processing necessary for the effective monitoring and management of capture fisheries and in particular for implementing the relevant articles of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; provide a summary of links between typical policy and management questions and data necessary to provide the answers; and provide a guide for organizing an effective and sustainable data collection programme.
53. After having considered the Guidelines, the Experts agreed that the implementation of the Guidelines be promoted as this can be very useful to their respective efforts in improving data collection.
54. The Expert from Australia considered the Guidelines as a very ambitious document, the objectives of which may be difficult to achieve considering the resources available in the region. Recognizing the need to collect data not only from direct fisheries but also on environmental aspects as well, he encouraged countries to take advantage of the Guidelines in order that data collected are comparable not only within countries but also among countries in the region. He suggested the promotion of cost-sharing in data collection through collaborative efforts within the countries, among countries and with international or regional organizations. In order for the Guidelines to be clearly understood especially at the top management level of each government, there should be a short summary of the Guidelines while keeping the original Guidelines as reference.
55. In the case of China where a data collection system is long established, the expert from China who considered the Guidelines as a useful document, requested that his country be given time to assess on how the Guidelines would fit into their existing system.
56. The expert from Indonesia considered the Guidelines as very important and useful and very applicable in his country’s efforts to improve data collection. The Guidelines have various aspects and approaches that would be applicable to the various levels of management.
57. The expert from the Philippines looked at the Guidelines as a useful document because it could easily serve as basis for assessing the current data collection system adopted in his country. He suggested that since the title may not actually reflect the real contents and intentions of the Guidelines, this may be changed appropriately. The Guidelines could serve as valuable reference materials for a complete and comprehensive data collection system. It is, however, such a thick document for top-level management to peruse, thus, he suggested that a preface be developed which would introduce the Guidelines to all types of users. The preface could be an avenue for top level management to be aware of the usefulness of a complete and reliable data collection system.
58. The expert from Sri Lanka opined that the Guidelines are useful especially in organizing data collection system in accordance with international and national needs. The Guidelines can also help improve the data collection system in his country.
59. The expert from USA considered the Guidelines very comprehensive, noting that it could serve as a textbook or a dictionary. He agreed that middle management would be easy to deal with it but efforts should be made in order that the Guidelines get to the top level management, especially for budgetary allocation purposes.
60. The expert from Vietnam stated that the Guidelines are comprehensive and useful. However, he also agreed that the title may be revised to reflect the real contents of the Guidelines. He suggested that a strong rationale be included in the Guidelines to deliver the message on the importance of the Guidelines especially to top level management. He also suggested that some explanation on technical terms be included to make the Guidelines easily understood by all types of users.
61. The expert from MRC who agreed that the present title be revised, offered a new version of the title as Guidelines for Discussion on the Re-assessment of Routine Collection of Capture Fishery Data, in view of the fact that the Guidelines is structured for re-assessing the already existing data collection system in the countries. He added that national initiatives be conducted to discuss the Guidelines not only among statisticians but also among managers, planners, and other officers. He suggested as an output of such initiatives, countries could develop and implement systems at national levels based on the Guidelines and report the progress of such implementation to the regional level.
62. SEAFDEC for its part, can take the Guidelines as one of the important inputs in the compilation of data for its Fishery Statistical Bulletin for the South China Sea Area. The Guidelines will be considered as a useful guide for the appropriate activities being carried out by the SEAFDEC Departments in Thailand and Malaysia. SEAFDEC would look at its capabilities in implementing the Guidelines where and when appropriate, and the extent of its applicability within SEAFDEC’s existing systems.
63. The expert from SPC commented that the Guidelines would be a useful document. However, since national systems have already evolved in many countries and which should not be scrapped, he suggested that the Guidelines may be considered as a tool in validating and expanding the scope of such existing systems of data collection.
64. Generally, most countries in the region can make use of the Guidelines by comparing it with what they already have in their existing national systems. The countries can organize pilot projects as case studies, based on the applicability of the Guidelines, and present the result of such implementation in regional forum. In this regard, APFIC was requested to convene such regional initiative where countries can feedback the application of the Guidelines.
65. The Secretary of APFIC agreed to the suggestion that the Guidelines would need a strong preface in order to be easily understood by top-level management. In addition, he suggested that countries should compare their existing systems with the recommended systems in the Guidelines in order to attain compatibility of data collection in the region.
66. After the discussion, it was noted that the Guidelines can serve as a general approach in improving the data collection system in the region, although such approach may not be easily accessible to top level management. Considering that there is a highly increasing need for reliable data, the Technical Secretary of the Ad hoc Working Group agreed that some improvements could be made in the next version of the Guidelines to include the possible revision of the title, the inclusion of a strong preface and rationale, and the development of an executive summary, if only to promote the accessibility of the Guidelines in the most cost-effective way. A flyer should also be prepared to promote the document.
