On June 4th, The Bureau of Fisheries (BOF) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) held a consultation with fishermen regarding the collection of reef fishery data. Scientific information on the current status of coastal resources is limited, making it unclear how much impact fishing activities have on them. Similarly, due to high rates of self-consumption of catches, comprehensive statistics on total catch volumes is not available.
While studies have been conducted on resource trends based on changes in body length measured by photo and consumption volumes in markets, Dr. Terashima, a JICA expert from the Blue Economy Project, will conduct a log sheet survey with the cooperation of local fishermen. The information provided by the fishermen will be used as sample data to estimate the total catch and the catch per unit effort in Palau.
To protect these fishing activities from external criticism, such scientific evidence is essential and also beneficial for the necessary financial planning when developing these fisheries as a business, says Dr. Terashima. In the context of the Blue Economy, where reef-based fisheries play an important role, this survey is expected to increase the sustainability and profitability of fisheries in Palau.