One of the most important parts of tuna trade in the region and as well as the globe, is the efficiency in providing factual timely data, something which the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has improved on since 2015 with its Asset Track System.
Data report is very important as it plays an important role for NFA to continue maintaining its Certificate of Health and Certificate of Catch in order to have access to global markets as well as the European Union (EU) market and the Chinese market.
Mr. Herman Kisokau from the Training and Support from the Rabaul NFA office stated that the Asset Track System is fully encrypted, and it is Digi set certified, meaning that it is very secure and 100% safe.
“This Asset Track System is used within the National Fisheries Authority only and it is web based, meaning you can connect and access it where there is internet service.”
This system is used by PNG Licensed vessels to send in or provide their data through their transponders, they can also provide there GPS locations and intervals to the licensed and fishing authorities and the GPS locations and intervals are displayed on the system.
Mr. Kisokau also stated that this system is used by the observer who is on the fishing vessels observing the fishing process.
“Back in 1996 upwards, everything was manual, and we did not know what was happening on any vessel until it came to harbor and the observer submits the report.”
“However, this has changed, the observer at sea is using a tablet and a transponder they carry every time, and they send real time data back to the observatory.”
Also,the fishing vessels are using tablets and the software and sending the same information to the authority.
“Three data sets are coming in at one time, vessels date, observer data and the industry data to the authority and displaying on one screen in real time.”
When the data is received, the licensing and data management team are responsible for the data, they start to separate the data and give it to responsible business groups in authority to manage the data.
“This is a game changer as we are able to track everything on a vessel through our observer who is on board, thus we are able to also know if the observer is alright or is at risk unlike in the past.”
“With the use of this system, the National Fisheries Authority was able to save five vessels from sinking, because the observer on board sent an SOS through.”
Tuna fishing is the biggest business activity in the fisheries sector; thus, data collection is endless and to translate all these into electronic now, just makes work easier.
This data helps NFA access the market system and maintain its position in the Global tuna and other fisheries product markets.