Workshop 2: Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Systems

Workshop Goals:

- Best practice approaches to fisheries MCS;

- Whether existing or emerging technology solutions are appropriate or feasible in certain situations; and

- General barriers to implementation and integration of MCS technologies to address MCS challenges.

Workshop Overview:

The workshop will consist of initial brief statements of MCS technology and policy experts followed by a facilitated discussion, led by moderator Francisco Blaha. Following the initial segment, Francisco will introduce the first topic. Then, the audience will break into groups to discuss the topic, issues related to that topic, and possible solutions. Francisco and the experts will move around the room, joining in the group discussion to answer questions engage on ways in which technologies can be improved to better fit the needs of the fishing industry and larger MCS community. Experts will discuss specific pain points they face (i.e. cost of solution, coverage, ease of implementation, effectiveness) and to collaborate with the audience to work towards improved technical solutions. After the group discussion, the audience will have a chance to briefly offer any questions or comments in summary of the first topic. Next, Francisco will introduce the second topic. Once all three topics have been discussed by the groups, there will be a brief period where the audience and experts are able to wrap up and summarize key take-aways from the workshop.

Topics to be discussed:

- Availability and accessibility of technology/data – scale and scope of coverage, timeliness of data, ease of implementation, effectiveness of technology, affordability and cost, ability of end users to maintain and sustain the solution over time

- Path to conviction and enforcement – how can technology help?

- Impacts to legal fishing – how does IUU impact legal fishing efforts, and how can technology help incentivize or encourage other fishers to operate legally.

This workshop will feature members of the broader fishing community, each offering their perspective on how they engage with technology, the challenges they face, and ways in which technology can be improved for the purposes of monitoring, control, and surveillance. A variety of technical needs will be represented in the four different speakers:

- Per Erik Bergh, Stop Illegal Fishing

- Mr. Vivian Fernandes, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)

- TBD, Fisheries Legal Expert

- Mr. Francisco Blaha, Fisheries Consultant

Workshop Lead:

Pew Charitable Trust

Workshop Moderator:

Francisco Blaha, Fisheries Consultant