Inland Fisheries

2.3.4 Approaches to improve information

In general, information collection methods in many areas are based on the application of traditional methods of government fishery officers assessing catch and effot data. However, these methods are best suited for formal, large-scale fisheries and are inadequate or inappropriate for the many informal, small scale fisheries; many inland water bodies support both formal and informal fisheries, i.e. both large scale and small scale. Thus, alternative approaches are being developed and evaluated that attempt to include individual fishers, households, and communities. Additionally, indicators and proxy measures of fishery yield are being developed. Data alone are not always enough to manage a fishery or develop fishery policy. Data must be analysed and transformed into meaningful information and this information delivered in an appropriate form to the people who are actually making decisions that affect fisheries.