Science, knowledge & information gathering

What information exists about your fishery and how can you ensure your fishery thrives now and in the future? Local knowledge, science and data collection are needed to make management decisions to support  the responsible, sustainable, and long-term use of fishery resources. Start here to learn about participatory data collection and the introduction to fisheries management and explore the sub-categories below.

Subcategories

Resources

Comités Consultivos de Manejo y Ordenamiento Pesquero: guía para conocer, formar y operar un comité consultivo de manejo pesquero

El presente documento es una guía que reúne información, experiencias y recomendaciones sobre los Comités Consultivos de Manejo Pesquero (Comités Consultivos). Está dirigida principalmente a las personas que forman parte de una pesquería o región pesquera y se encuentran interesadas en participar en el manejo responsable y participativo de los recursos pesqueros.

Nassau Grouper in Belize - Story of Carlton Young

Listen to the story that veteran fisherman, Carlton Young, has to share about the need for sustainable fishing practices. In his years of fishing, he has witnessed a marked decline in the fishing population.

Resumen Ejecutivo: Diagnóstico de Capacidades Digitales en Comunidades Pesqueras de Pequeña Escala en México

Recomendaciones para la transformación digital en la pesca de pequeña escala. Estas pueden ser utilizadas por organizaciones sociales, académicas, la iniciativa privada, el sector pesquero y otros actores interesados en el tema.

Diagnóstico de capacidades digitales en las comunidades pesqueras de pequeña escala en México

Este trabajo presenta un diagnóstico de las capacidades digitales del sector pesquero de pequeña escala en México, entendidas como el cúmulo de habilidades para utilizar dispositivos digitales, incluidas las redes sociales y tecnológicas sobre las cuales interactúan los dispositivos, fundamentadas en la confianza en los procesos digitales y en sus recursos monetarios.

Shark and Ray Recovery Fact Sheet 4 - Misool, Indonesia

Misool Island - an innovative conservation model incorporating tourism, community development and biodiversity protection has transformed a marine ecosystem.

Shark and Ray Recovery Fact Sheet 3 - Tubbataha, Philippines

Recovery of reef and tiger sharks in Tubbataha, Philippines: Three decades of conservation efforts at a remote Philippine coral reef complex – which have included plenty of trial and error as well as successes – have paid off, and today underpin one of the most important areas for sharks in the Coral Triangle.

Shark and Ray Recovery Fact Sheet 2 - Cabo Pulmo, Mexico

Recovery of tiger, bull, and reef sharks in Cabo Pulmo, Mexico: A bold decision from the local community – to give up their fishing rights and voluntarily extend the protection around their local reef – has played a critical role in the regeneration of one of Mexico’s most important shark hotspots.

Shark and Ray Recovery Fact Sheet 1 - Smalltooth Sawfish in Florida, USA

Smalltooth sawfish recovery in Florida, USA: Direct and indirect protection measures, public education and a long-term science-based recovery plan are bending the curve for a rare and iconic species in US waters.

Identifying Pathways for Climate-Resilient Multispecies Fisheries

These case studies – from Mexico, Cuba, and Chile – differ in data richness, governance structure, and management resources. The management systems are also in various stages of evolution from unmanaged to complete management of a single species but transitioning to multispecies management.

Marine-Related Learning Networks: Shifting the Paradigm Toward Collaborative Ocean Governance

This study investigates the emergence, key attributes, and outcomes of marine-related networks using semi-structured interview data from 40 key informants representing 16 different networks that operate around the world at local, national, regional, and global scales. Our findings indicate that marine-related learning networks form in response to knowledge and action gaps and the specific needs of network members, and they function to inform policy and improve ocean management.

The Great Blue Wall: Good practices for marine and coastal conservation in the Western Indian Ocean

The aim of this PANORAMA Solutions in focus publication is to highlight existing good practices in the WIO region that contribute to the three main objectives of the GBW. Scaling such solutions across the region and integrating these into future planning and investments, as well as supporting knowledge exchange amongst key actors to build on “what works”, will all be key to achieving the ambitious goal of the GBW.

This publication focuses on 46 PANORAMA Solutions from the WIO region that provide a good representativity of the range of actions delivering tangible outcomes and that are promising for further development. We first classified them according to the GBW’s three components. We then identified their contributions to ecosystem health, human well-being or both, based on the description provided in the solutions’ impact section.

Coral Reef Monitoring in Eastern Africa - A Guide for Communities

This guide fills a critical gap by providing a carefully thought through and practical approach for community-led coral reef and fisheries monitoring. It provides guidance on how local communities, with minimal support, can independently undertake simple coral reef habitat and fisheries monitoring, data collection, analysis and interpretation of their data to improve understanding of the status of their resource and be able to devise appropriate management actions.

A rising tide lifts all boats

The purpose of this document is to provide an overview of an alternative approach to how we could use digital technologies in service to marine conservation outcomes in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Small-scale fisheries and sustainable development

Key findings from the Illuminating Hidden Harvests report - This brief presents the main results from the Illuminating Hidden Harvests (IHH) report, providing new, clearer insights to support the implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication (SSF Guidelines) and progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Photostory: The small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sector in Asia: Small in scale, big in value

This photostory book celebrates the International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (IYAFA 2022) by showing the diversity of the small-scale fisheries and aquaculture sector in Asia, as home to the majority of the world's small-scale fishers, fish farmers, and fish workers.

Ghost Gear Factsheets

Otherwise known as ‘ghost gear’, ALDFG is the most harmful form of marine debris as it is designed to last a long time. In response to a need for information on this topic, GCFI has produced new fact sheets that seek to share pertinent information about ALDFG and to promote the adoption of best management practices for preventing and reducing the impact of ALDFG.