Management Information 2003/04

INFORMATION RESOURCES

Research The Ministry owns a set of approximately 30 fisheries research databases. They are derived primarily from the information collected as a result of fisheries research projects and used essentially for stock assessment, environmental performance management, and policy evaluation.

Examples are:

• A database of fish caught during trawl surveys by research vessels.
• A database of fish abundance detected by sonar during studies by research vessels.
• Several databases of subsets of catch effort and observer trawl catch effort data that have been further groomed to improve their accuracy for stock assessment purposes.
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Specimen collections Fisheries research specimen collections. An example is a collection of otoliths (fish ear bones) used for determining the age of fish.

Catch effort This database is derived from information supplied by commercial fishers relating to what species they caught, when and where it was caught, and the catching method used. The database has a time series that extends back to 1990. The information is used to assist in decisions related to stock assessment, and for environmental performance management, policy evaluation, the detection of offences and monitoring overall integrity of the fisheries management regime. The Ministry has contracted Commercial Fisheries Services Ltd (FishServe) to maintain the database under standards and specifications set by the Ministry.

Observer trawl catch effort This database uses information supplied by Ministry observers stationed aboard commercial trawlers. The data supplements the catch information supplied by commercial fishers, and is used for the same purposes as noted above. The Ministry maintains this database.

Geo-spatial data management system/National aquatic biodiversity information system (GDM/NABIS) The Ministry operates a Geo-spatial data management system. This is a tool that stores and displays maps detailing the locations of events relating to the management of fisheries. Examples include the boundaries of Fishery Management Areas, the locations of Licensed Fish Receivers (LFRs) and the locations of albatross breeding colonies. In mid/late 2004, an internet-based version of this tool (NABIS) will be made available to the public.

Quota management system Fisheries management system comprising client information: including LFR, quota and ACE holdings and transfers, caveats and mortgages, statutory reporting (excluding catch effort), balancing catch against ACE, vessel registration and permitting.

FishServe owns these systems, with data transferred daily to the Ministry.

Compliance and enforcement information Compliance information systems include the:

• Vessel monitoring system - logs the GPS location of all vessels carrying an Automatic Location Communicator (ALC), which is then stored for future reference and analysis.
• Fisheries intelligence network - stores secure intelligence information about entities and associations between entities of interest to Ministry of Fisheries compliance activities.
• Compliance activity monitoring system - stores the details of inspection and monitoring activities undertaken by the Compliance business, reports on non-compliance issues, compliance rates and trends.
• Offences system - this comprises various modules related to the detection of offences against fisheries legislation and the processes following from that detection.
• DECIDENDII - records Court judgements for use in sentencing submissions.
• Observer trip register - records historical and planned trips for Ministry of Fisheries observers.
• HFO management system - records Honorary
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Fishery Officer personnel management information, manages inventory and training scheduling and followups, records critical incidents and health and safety information, monthly report monitoring and compliance rates for HFO compliance activity.

Reference data Shared in common between many systems, including information about species, fish stocks, areas, locations, clients, vessels, conversion factors and many other small data sets.

Documents Fisheries management policy and decisionmaking documents comprising word-processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations and email.

Operational documents, including applications and submitted forms.

Accounting Financial information systems comprising general ledger, accounts payable and accounts receivable, bank reconciliations, property, plant and equipment, report writing modules and time management systems.

Human resources Human resources information database, payroll systems and report writer modules.