Southern Rock Lobster IPA: Assessing functionality and suitability of the iPhone application 'Deckhand' for on-board electronic data capture in Southern Australian Rock Lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fisheries
2011-250
South Eastern Professional Fishermen's Association Inc (SEPFA)
Justin Phillips
Completed
$94,490.00
Industry
The primary needs in relation to this work are: 1. Regulators and research agencies, generally, are requiring greater levels of data to demonstrate the sustainability of fisheries resources - this increased level of information provision is also within the interests of industry, particularly within the current political climate. This requirement for further data also increases the impost on fishers to report a day's catch - there is a need to consolidate reporting across all areas. 2. For a range of reasons e.g. implementation of marine parks networks (State and Commonwealth) and for enhanced resource management, there is a need to provide fishery data on a finer spatial scale, or at least make provision to do so in the future. 3. The current environment for fisheries is one of change - access, allocation and increasing external scrutiny are all contributors to this. The provision of data captured on-board the vessel electronically can only expedite the process of decision making providing fishers / business operators with more timely outcomes. There is a need to provide fishers with a greater level of certainty and stability within their operating environment. 4. As we see competition for fishery resources increase between various stakeholders e.g. conservation, community and other industry, there is a need to ensure that the commercial fishing industry, while ensuring sustainability as the absolute priority, has the opportunity to maximise its returns - this is often a legislated objective. Provision of more precise and timely information at both the boat and fishery level will assist in delivering this.
1. A functional on-board electronic data capture system which addresses the requirements of regulators, research agencies and industry.
2. A detailed Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA).
3. A simpler, consolidated, more efficient way of reporting a day's catch.
4. Enhanced resource sustainability through the provision of improved information.
5. More efficient and effective, and therefore profitable, operation at the individual business level through the provision of more detailed information in a timely fashion.
Principal Investigator: Justin Phillips
Key Words: deckhand, rock lobster, app, real time data
Summary: The key recommendations of that report were for any future electronic data capture system to;
• Utilise a touch screen interface robust enough to use on deck.
• Cause minimal interruption to the fishing operation.
• Use wireless communication (mobile / satellite network) for uploading data and downloading
software updates.
• Provide real time (or minimum near time on a daily basis) data.
• Interact with existing database systems.
• Collect data directly linked to the management of the fishery.
• Receive inputs from a wide variety of sensors.
• Be easily modified to respond to changes in data requirements.
This project (2011/250) intended to address all of these recommendations with a view to
implementing a practical and operational system within the SZRLF.