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y | Statistical activities include the development of generic microcomputer software that can be tailored to meet the needs of national fishery statistical systems, while complying with international standards and requirements. They also include provision of methodological guidelines in applied fishery statistics and computing, as well as holding of training courses and workshops at national level focusing on methodological and operational aspects of catch and effort statistical surveys. (see FIGIS-ARTFISH)
The following major aspects are taken into consideration in the process of assisting countries to implement statistical monitoring systems for fisheries and, more specifically, in the sector of artisanal fisheries:
- For operational and logistic reasons the census approach is, in general, not applicable in the statistical monitoring of artisanal fisheries. Well-defined sampling schemes are recommended for the estimation of total catch, fishing effort and species composition. The effectiveness and accuracy of a sample-based programme is in reverse proportion to the number of assumptions as regards the homogeneity of the population and the representativeness of the samples. Any reduction in the number of such assumptions (i.e. reducing the statistical risk of obtaining inaccurate results), will automatically imply higher operational and logistic costs.
- Sample-based survey programmes should be dynamic and flexible so as to easily adapt to changes in the fishery without methodological and software implications. The accumulated knowledge resulting from regular field operations should, over time, be interpreted into new and improved stratification and classification schemes, thus also increasing the effectiveness of the sampling and estimation approaches.
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