The Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Palau on June 25 jointly hosted a forum focused on sustainable fisheries management. Held jointly with the Palau Bureau of Marine Resources (BMR), the forum invited BMR officials and local fishers to discuss the impact to date of the Strengthening Coastal Fisheries Resource Management Project. Participants also discussed how technology could be used to protect marine resources.

TTM specialist Jimmy Tseng presented a standardized catch reporting system that the mission has been working with the BMR to implement. Data for the system is now collected five days per week—up from one to two days weekly—significantly improving the comprehensiveness of coastal fisheries data, and laying a solid foundation for policy development and management, he said. 

The top 10 contributors to catch reporting were each presented with a personalized “individual catch analysis report,” which details the fisher’s annual catch volume and trends, and provides a breakdown of the species comprising their catches. The report enables fishers to better understand their fishing activity, and helps them recognize the importance of sustainable resource management.

The event also featured a presentation on the use of an automatic identification system (AIS) on each vessel to aid in fisheries management. The AIS helps enhance operational safety, track fishing vessel movements, and assisting authorities in the enforcement of marine protected areas. The TTM shared its plan to integrate AIS-based movement data with catch records to identify fishing hotspots and monitor activity trends. This data-driven approach will support the Palauan government in developing more scientific conservation and management policies.

Mason Iramk, a fisher from Ngeremlengui State and a member of the state legislature, praised the AIS as an excellent tool, especially in areas like his where fishery resources have been heavily depleted. He expressed hopes that local legislation can mandate the use of an AIS, and thanked the TTM for identifying the challenges facing coastal fisheries and proposing science-based solutions. Another fisher, Luke Ucharm, also expressed gratitude for the mission’s yearlong efforts in data collection and voiced hope that the data would lead to positive changes in Palau’s fisheries resource management.

TaiwanICDF Deputy Secretary General Peifen Hsieh emphasized that the Palauan government places great importance on balancing ecological conservation with commercial development in its use of marine resources. She noted that the TaiwanICDF aims to expand the use of the coastal fisheries monitoring and reporting mechanism, with plans to bring at least 80% of catches from three states under the system by the end of 2027. Ms. Hsieh also stressed that alongside technological tools, the TaiwanICDF is committed to incorporating and integrating traditional local knowledge to enhance outcomes and realize the spirit of UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water.

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• 更新日期: 2025/07/17
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