Enhancing Scientific Advice and Data Management for Sustainable Fisheries

What is guiding SPC FAME work

Provide scientific advice on stock status and impacts of fisheries and environment on both non-target species and pelagic ecosystem. Work closely with members at national level and through various regional and sub- regional fisheries organisations WCPFC, FFA, PNA and SPG. Providing scientific advice to help maintain healthy oceanic resources and ecosystems an ensure both short-term and long-term options are informed by the best available scientific information. National science capacity building to continue to build the region s skill sets. OFP delivers its work programs through three sections Fisheries, Ecosystems Monitoring and Assessment (FEMA), Data Management (DM), and Stock Assessment and Modelling (SAM) Oceanic Fisheries Oceanic Fisheries Programme (OFP) Programme (OFP) priorities in 2023 priorities in 2023

Providing important biological inputs for stock assessment and related scientific advice including work on tuna age and growth, reproduction, movements, diet and trophic ecology. Fisheries Ecosystem Fisheries Ecosystem Monitoring and Monitoring and Analysis (FEMA) Analysis (FEMA) Modelling impacts of environment variations, including climate change, on tuna and the pelagic ecosystem. Monitoring impacts of tuna fisheries on bycatch and the pelagic ecosystem more broadly. Investigating wahoo and mahi mahi ecology, important to nearshore aFAD fisheries. Maintaining the Pacific Community Specimen Tissue Bank. Investigating the impact of methyl mercury and micro/nano-plastic contamination of tuna and other fish stocks, including the health implications of the Pacific island communities.

Ongoing enhancement and support for TUFMAN 2 supporting member countries to manage/report on their integrated tuna fishery data. Enhancing E-Reporting (ER) tools developed by SPC in response to member country requests, support to E-Monitoring systems (incl third party systems) for seamless data acquisition. Data management support to the WCPFC, which also covers the direct support to member countries in satisfying WCPFC reporting obligations Acquisition of E-Reporting and E-Monitoring data from third-party system, covers situations where member countries choose to adopt ER and EM systems developed and maintained by third-party technical service providers. Support for new management systems required by member countries, for example Catch Documentation System (CDS) and Catch Management System (CMS). Data visualisation, analysis and reporting including alerts. Cannery receipt data potential source to verify estimates of purse seine tuna species catch. Data Management Data Management (DM) (DM)

Regional stock assessment of tuna, billfish, and sharks to inform scientific advice on current stock status and fishery sustainability within the WCPO Harvest strategy work for key tuna stocks and fisheries, including skipjack following adaptation of the harvest strategy approach by WCPFC National-level analyses and advice to address specific national requests and issues Ongoing research and analysis on Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) to increase understanding and support improved management and decision-making on FAD related issues Novel use of Purse Seine CPUE data to inform stock assessments Development of new stock assessment tools to ensure that regional WCPO assessments remain at the forefront of international best practice Stock Assessment and Stock Assessment and Modelling (SAM) Modelling (SAM)

Guiding the Te Wa Placing FAME in the work of broader SPC Strategic oversight and direction setting Integrate SPC FAMEs work into SPC flagship programmes Director s Office Director s Office priorities in 2023 priorities in 2023 Information and knowledge section Production of reference newsletters and information bulletins that provide a current look at some of the most exciting research and case studies on marine-related topics of interest in the region Production of scientific and technical reports to assist members and other SPC FAME sections, as well as other paper-based information tools Producing tailor-made information for communities, in line with the New Song recommendations, using a wide range of materials combining with more interactive tools such as videos, animated films

Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Unit / Finance Supports FAME with MEL in generating evidence, facilitate talanoa on learning and reflection, communicate results to members and stakeholders, while improving systems and tools, enhancing FAME capacity and capability Facilitate, coordinate and deliver high level stakeholder engagements e.g. HoF, RFMM, RTMCFA Support the development of annual and long term plans including implementation and expenditure tracking Support FAME visibility and enhance ongoing collaboration with CROP agencies Resource mobilisation - concept and proposal writing, tracking projects and grants, documentation Pacific Fisheries Leadership Programme enhancing capacity and capability of regional fisheries leadership Director s Office Director s Office priorities in 2023 priorities in 2023

Provides science and technical support to enhance the management of coastal fisheries, and the sustainable development of aquaculture and nearshore livelihoods Coastal Fisheries and Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Aquaculture Programme (CFAP) Programme (CFAP) priorities in 2023 priorities in 2023 CFAP new 5-year plan in late 2022 guides CFAP to better support PICTs effectively manage and equitably benefit from their coastal fisheries and aquaculture resources, using emerging technology Second year of Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture flagship projects: Sustainable Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture for Pacific Livelihoods, Food and Economic Security (SCoFA) and the Pacific Coastal Fisheries Management and Compliance (PaFMaC) CFAP sections: Aquaculture; Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Science; and Coastal Fisheries Management and Livelihoods. Supported by Information and Database Management and Coastal fisheries economics.

Enhancing capacity in aquaculture policy, planning, MCS and legislation to facilitate the establishment of clear priorities for aquaculture to meet current and future needs Enhancing the management of aquatic biosecurity risks supporting the application of the Regional Framework on Aquatic Biosecurity; strengthening risk analysis capacity and assess aquatic biosecurity needs and practices Aquaculture Aquaculture Supporting small-to-medium sized private sector development through capacity-building and technology transfers to increase efficiency and up-scale production Identify and foster aquaculture that is climate-smart Promote innovation and diversification in members aquaculture production sectors by facilitating the acquisition of appropriate new technology and investments

Strengthen PICT coastal fisheries and aquaculture management arrangements, through support reviewing and drafting policies, management plans, legislation and regulations, and training in Monitoring, Control, Surveillance and Enforcement activities Coastal Fisheries Coastal Fisheries Management and Management and Livelihoods Livelihoods Support implementing effective CBFM scaling-up approaches aligned with the Pacific Framework for Action on Scaling-up Community-based Fisheries Management Supporting sustainable livelihoods opportunities, strengthening national anchored FAD programmes; training for key nearshore fisheries; capacity enhancement and support in safe, sustainable fishing methods; exploring alternative target species; and developing non-extractive uses of coastal fisheries resources Explore and trial emerging technology in monitoring and detecting coastal fisheries and aquaculture offences

Build the CFAP science capacity and capability to support PICT requests Build the science foundations for a standardised, Pacific approach to sustainable, evidence-based coastal fisheries management New e-tools and approaches for online data entry; standardised data collection; data and information quality control; and analysis and dissemination for management decision-making Coastal Fisheries and Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Aquaculture Science Science Support to conduct fisheries independent (in water surveys) and fisheries dependent (market and creel surveys) assessments, through online learning software and conducting virtual and in- person training Working with members to assess and manage finfish and invertebrate resources and their associated habitats to inform management through resource assessments, data analysis, interpretation, training, mentoring and advice

Develop and support MCS online module to record infringements, expanded to fit the needs of PICTs Information and Information and Database Database Management Management Use artificial intelligence and machine learning tools to semi-automate data entry by predicting species, reading scales, and calibrating images for length measurements Continue scanning fisheries and aquaculture related documents and provide remote support to member-managed knowledge bases Exploring the development of tools and methodologies to assist with tracing commercial products to improve the monitoring and to facilitate enforcement

Resources 41 Projects 127 Technical, administrative support staff in 2023 (from 82 in 2017) 27.5 million budget in 2023 30% Coastal Fisheries & Aquaculture Programme 54% Oceanic Fisheries Programme 64 male 16% 63 female Office of the Director

Recommendations Members are invited to: Review the priorities and emerging work areas in 2023 and beyond Make suggestions on strategic direction, and Endorse the priorities and emerging work areas inline with SPC FAME Business Plan 2022 2027

Thank Thank- -you for your you for your time time The outcomes of the session will be synthesised and provided by the rapporteurs for your comment tomorrow As we are centralising the Member Request, any technical support request to SPC - USE EMAIL BELOW Email: fame_support@spc.int