PeskAAS: A near-real-time, open-source monitoring and analytics system for small-scale fisheries

PLoS One. 2020 Nov 13;15(11):e0234760. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234760. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries are responsible for landing half of the world's fish catch, yet there are very sparse data on these fishing activities and associated fisheries production in time and space. Fisheries-dependent data underpin scientific guidance of management and conservation of fisheries systems, but it is inherently difficult to generate robust and comprehensive data for small-scale fisheries, particularly given their dispersed and diverse nature. In tackling this challenge, we use open source software components including the Shiny R package to build PeskAAS; an adaptable and scalable digital application that enables the collation, classification, analysis and visualisation of small-scale fisheries catch and effort data. We piloted and refined this system in Timor-Leste; a small island developing nation. The features that make PeskAAS fit for purpose are that it is: (i) fully open-source and free to use (ii) component-based, flexible and able to integrate vessel tracking data with catch records; (iii) able to perform spatial and temporal filtering of fishing productivity by fishing method and habitat; (iv) integrated with species-specific length-weight parameters from FishBase; (v) controlled through a click-button dashboard, that was co-designed with fisheries scientists and government managers, that enables easy to read data summaries and interpretation of context-specific fisheries data. With limited training and code adaptation, the PeskAAS workflow has been used as a framework on which to build and adapt systematic, standardised data collection for small-scale fisheries in other contexts. Automated analytics of these data can provide fishers, managers and researchers with insights into a fisher's experience of fishing efforts, fisheries status, catch rates, economic efficiency and geographic preferences and limits that can potentially guide management and livelihood investments.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Ecosystem*
  • Fisheries / standards*
  • Fisheries / statistics & numerical data
  • Fishes / physiology*
  • Software*
  • Species Specificity
  • Systems Analysis*

Grants and funding

This work was undertaken as part of the CGIAR Research Program on Fish Agri-Food Systems (FISH) led by WorldFish, and the CGIAR Big Data Platform Inspire Challenge 2018 led by CIAT and IFPRI. These programs are supported by contributors to the CGIAR Trust Fund. PeskAAS was established under the Fisheries Sector Support Program funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta. The funders provided support in the form of salary for authors [A.T.] and field costs, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Wilderlab is a recent, unassociated affiliation for S.P.W. and did not contribute funding towards the study. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.