Rapid Fishery Assessment by Market Survey (RFAMS) – An Improved Rapid-Assessment Approach to Characterising Fish Landings in Developing Countries |
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| Authors: | William T White Peter R Last Dharmadi Ria Faizah Umi Chodrijah Rik C Buckworth Catherine M Dichmont |
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| Institution: | 1. CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere Flagship, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.; 2. Research Centre for Fisheries Management and Conservation, Agency for Marine and Fisheries Research and Development, Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Jakarta, Indonesia.; 3. CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere Flagship, Dutton Park, Queensland, Australia.; Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece, |
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| Abstract: | The complex multi-gear, multi-species tropical fisheries in developing countries are poorly understood and characterising the landings from these fisheries is often impossible using conventional approaches. A rapid assessment method for characterising landings at fish markets, using an index of abundance and estimated weight within taxonomic groups, is described. This approach was developed for contexts where there are no detailed data collection protocols, and where consistent data collection across a wide range of fisheries types and geographic areas is required, regardless of the size of the site and scale of the landings. This methodology, which was demonstrated at seven fish landing sites/fish markets in southern Indonesia between July 2008 and January 2011, provides a rapid assessment of the abundance and diversity in the wild catch over a wide variety of taxonomic groups. The approach has wider application for species-rich fisheries in developing countries where there is an urgent need for better data collection protocols, monitoring future changes in market demographics, and evaluating health of fisheries. |
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