Funded
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- Objectives
- Contribute towards the development and implementation of a regional shark fishery sampling program in the EPO, providing data for several types of stock assessments at IATTC (e.g. data-limited assessments, Close Kin Mark Recapture assessments, and conventional assessments).
- Background
- In 2014, the FAO-GEF Common Oceans program (ABNJ), funded a project to improve data collection for shark fisheries in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO), beginning with a focus on Central America. The project (phase 1), carried out in 2014-2018 by the IATTC and OSPESCA, was a first step towards the development of a long-term EPO regional data-collection program for sharks. During Phase 1, the data available for these fisheries were identified and compiled, and recommendations were formulated for improving data collection. Also, three workshops were held on data collection, assessment methods for shark species, and designing a pilot sampling program.
A Phase 2 of the project (2018-2021), build upon the results of Phase 1 developed sampling designs for shark fisheries in Central America, and tested them via a pilot study. As a result, the IATTC staff put forward proposed sampling designs for a long-term sampling program for shark fisheries in Central America (IATTC-98-02c). Despite these recent advancements, shark stock assessments in the EPO demand similar improvements in other coastal states of the region where shark fisheries are well developed. This is the case of Ecuador (Martinez et al. (2015), Mexico (Bizarro et al, 2008; Smith et al, 2008) and Peru (Alfaro-Cordova et al., 2017; Gonzalez-Pestana et al., 2019).
Although there is already some form of shark fishery data collection in Ecuador, Mexico and Peru, and more data could be available than in Central America, the quality of those data and their value for stock assessments are limited and vary across countries. Except for Central American nations, there is limited harmonization of shark data collection methods across EPO coastal nations, and no sampling designs for shark fisheries have been developed that take into consideration the highly migratory and trans-boundary nature of these stocks within the vast EPO region.
Because of this, the FAO funded (2023-2026) an expansion of the project to cover Mexico, Ecuador and Peru. - Relevance for management
- The planned activities and results of the project will contribute towards the development and implementation of a regional shark fishery sampling program in the EPO, providing data for several types of stock assessments at IATTC.
- Duration
- 36 months (April 1, 2023 – March 31st, 2026)
- Workplan and status
- 2023: Produce one report identifying and describing available fishery data sources on shark species in Ecuador, Mexico and Peru (Report on Existing Data Sources – Metadata). These data sources should include but not be limited to existing fishery sampling programs, trade records, research conducted at fishery institutes and universities, as well as anecdotal information.
- 2024: Expand the mapping tools developed for Central America to include new data for Ecuador, Mexico and Peru. These tools identify and map all sites where shark catches are potentially landed along each country’s EPO coastline.
- For selected landing sites, conduct in situ visits to sites, collect data on site characteristics and the level of fishing activity, and catch composition.
- 2025-2026: Conduct a feasibility study to develop a sampling program for updating of morphometric relationships and for collecting biological samples for prioritized shark species. Develop proposals and test sampling designs for data collection of shark fishery information (catch, effort and composition data).
- Initiate research to investigate the feasibility and development of sampling designs for Close Kin Mark Recapture (CKMR) analyses for prioritized shark species.
- External collaborators
- Fisheries authorities in Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.
- Deliverables
- Report on Existing data source on shark species in Ecuador, Mexico and Peru (Metadata report)
Sampling designs and logistical plans for estimating the species and size composition of shark catches in Mexico, Ecuador and Peru.
Report of the feasibility and sampling designs for Close Kin Mark Recapture analyses
Report on final sampling design, methodology and costs.
- Updated date: 01 May 2024
- Progress summary for the reporting period
- July 2023: the Local Coordinators (LCs) from Ecuador, Mexico and Peru conducted initial meetings with fishing authorities (SRP-Ecuador,PRODUCE-Peru, CONAPESCA-Mexico) and scientific entities (INAPESCA-Mexico, IPIAP-Ecuador, IMARPE-Peru) in their respective countries. Additionally, they began identifying and requesting data sources from other entities such as universities and NGOs.
- August 2023: A Microsoft Access database was established for information storage. Moreover, the first internal workshop was held with the LCs to plan the remaining activities for 2023 and 2024.
- September 2023: Coordination and planning for visits to regional offices of relevant fishing authorities (Ecuador) and scientific entities (Mexico and Peru) were undertaken by the LCs, and the fishing authorities’ capacity to support the monitoring of shark landings was discussed.
- September-November 2023: Fishing authorities provided historic and current shark catch statistics available in Ecuador, Mexico and Peru, along with the data collection forms and manuals used.
- July-December 2023: Over 1,100 documents, including peer-reviewed scientific papers, grey literature and undergraduate, master, and doctoral theses, were gathered and processed from Ecuador (24%), Mexico (49%), and Peru (27%).
- December 2023: Metadata analysis started and report produced. January-February 2024: Develop the first report of data source available (METADATA) and hire support technicians for Ecuador, Mexico and Peru.
- February 2024: begin analysis of the unloading sites to determine landing sites for shark catches (e.g., SAC-14-INF-M), using remote sensing information (Google Earth) and the information collected in the Metadata phase.
- March 2024: harmonization of data collection forms for the characterization of shark landing sites and fishing activity levels
- April 2024: Development of a database for the characterization of shark landing sites and fishing activity levels. Preparation of the second progress activity report , including creating a map that highlights all identified shark landing sites using remote sensing information (i.e., Google Earth).
- May 2024: Capacity building workshop for Local Coordinators and supporting technicians on the use of the database for the characterization of shark landing sites and fishing activity levels.
- Challenges and key lessons learnt
- The team faced different challenges on data collection matters. In the case of Mexico, the lack of a unified and standardized system for the collection of fishery and sharks statistics across the country is a challenge. Efforts to establish a unified monitoring system are hindered by different views and preferences among professionals responsible for assessing and monitoring these species across different states. Our task will be to attempt to unify criteria, harmonize, and support the development of a national program for the collection of fishery and biological data for sharks. This absence of a unified shark sampling program in Mexico provides the opportunity to build a comprehensive data collection system, although this may require a reorientation of financial resources available.
On the other hand, a shark fishery sampling program exists in both Ecuador and Peru. However, these are usually affected by the lack of human resources and accessibility to some key shark landing sites, and there is the possibility of facing strong resistance by the authorities for modifications in their data collection systems considering that investments have already been made in developing data recording systems (i.e., apps and statistical software). - A metadata report containing information about shark fishery data sources available in Ecuador, Mexico, and Peru has been prepared and shared with FAO. Document SAC-15-10 includes details on the metadata report, as well as other details about the current and future plans of the IATTC shark sampling program.