1. SESSION 6.4 Information Management System (IMS) initiatives Sixth Tuna Data Workshop (TDW-6) 23-27 April 2012 SPC, Noumea, New Caledonia

2. Outline What is an IMS? What would be the ideal IMS for fisheries in the region? Benefits of an IMS What new IMS developments are happening in the region?

3. What is an IMS? IMS = “Information Management System” A very general term whose definition depends on context. The term has no widely accepted definition and therefore can be applied to any system of software that facilitates the storage, organization, and retrieval of information within a computer system, without the implication that it need have all the essential characteristics of a DBMS (Database management System). For example, TUFMAN is an IMS for tuna fisheries data, TUBS an IMS for tuna fisheries observer data

4. What is an IMS? In this case, we are talking about an IMS for all fisheries data of interest, not just a specific subset of fisheries data. So a useful definition would be: An integrated collection of application systems and related processes that together support a country’s national fisheries (marine resources management) authority in achieving its business objectives through the provision of comprehensive, timely and quality data. In other words, a collection of database systems (such as Tufman and TUBS), that integrate with one another and provide reports that can tie everything together.

5. The Ideal IMS for the Region? As in the definitions, an IMS for the countries in the region would be: A collection of database systems, linked together, not a single system that tries to do everything. A collection of reporting systems that can draw from all of the database systems and give overall reports, and allow to ‘drill down’ to more detail where required Shared data, for example VMS data would be accessible by Tufman, TUBS, reports, but only stored once.

6. The Ideal IMS for the Region? For example the IMS might consist of: TUFMAN for entry of tuna fisheries data TUBS for entry of observer data Dedicated licensing system VDS management system Catch and effort query system Data auditing system Coastal fisheries database systems Executive level reporting system Exactly what is included depends on the needs of the country

7. The Ideal IMS for the Region? In general, ideally the overall IMS should be: Easily expandable Easily customisable to each countries needs Easy to maintain Regional where possible (i.e. Like Tufman it would be better if all countries can share the components) Supported by FFA, SPC, WCPFC, PNA etc so that data sharing is facilitated and additions to the systemn can be done by virtually anyone.

8. The benefits of an IMS? The benefits of an overall fisheries IMS are many: Better reporting with integration of all of the data sets ‘Executive level’ reports can aid management to access key indicators easily and make better decisions MCS activities are enhanced with integration of MCS data with other types of data More possibility of data quality checks Better accessibility to regional data, such as VMS, vessel information, etc.

9. The benefits of an IMS? However: The more data are combined and aggregated, the more important it is to ensure that the base-level data is of good quality. Just because a table can be produced with one click does not mean that the numbers are correct, so considerable effort has to be put into data entry, data quality checks, auditing, coverage of data, etc.

10. What new IMS developments are happening in the region? There are 2 major new developments currently in progress. The first is PNG/NFA and PNAO who have engaged consultants to develop ‘FIMS’ to integrate all of their fisheries data and provide top-level reporting. Work on this system is already well advanced and work is being undertaken to integrate the NFA system with database systems managed by the OFP (TUFMAN, TUBS, and TAGDAGER). FIMS will use TUFMAN and TUBS to enter tuna fisheries and observer data (but not licensing), and link to other FIMS data for reporting etc (VMS, VDS, Licenses, etc).

11. What new IMS developments are happening in the region? Secondly, a group consisting of the Cook Islands, FSM, and the Marshall Islands, who invited participation from FFA, SPC, and the WCPFC are creating a FIMS whose goal is to: “integrate relevant sets of information related to fishing including catch and observer reports, in real time, available at the “press of a button”. The system will be in line with “best practice” utilizing the latest technology to allow fisheries managers to make informed decisions in a timely manner. The FIMS will also allow for electronic exchanges on a national and regional basis involving partner agencies and the fishing industry itself”

12. What new IMS developments are happening in the region? Evaluation/scoping exercises will be completed on these countries with the next workshop/symposium to be held in Raratonga in June 2012. This second workshop will include participants from PNG and the consultants developing the NFA FIMS, which will hopefully generate some collaboration between the two initiatives.

13. What new IMS developments are happening in the region?

14. Information Management System (IMS) initiatives End