Location: Upper Fraser,
Tsawwassen, Delta, Kamloops, Williams Lake, Prince George
Project Summary
SUMMARY
The goal of the project is to expand the capacity of First Nations (FN) fisheries organizations to manage existing Food, Societal, and Ceremonial (FSC) fisheries, through the installation of a database management system (DBMS) which promotes best practices in FN fisheries management, and facilitates accurate and timely catch monitoring (CM) data exchange with Fisheries & Oceans Canada (DFO). This proposal emphasizes computer training and enhanced technical support to build and sustain FN FSC fisheries data management capacity.
DESCRIPTION
The importance of catch monitoring data management for sustainable fisheries is well-documented. Briefly, information gaps regarding returning salmon abundance and condition in First Nation fisheries in terminal areas contribute to poor estimates of spawner abundance and a reduced ability to forecast brood cycle returns. These uncertainties often lead, in turn, to fishery management errors that are often most detrimental to the terminal FN fisheries themselves. FN catch monitoring and reporting is therefore a vital component in ensuring accurate fish stock assessments and sustainable FSC fisheries.
To this end, the FSC Catch Database was developed to provide First Nations with a “free” user-friendly software tool for managing FSC fisheries data associated with communal fisheries licenses. Installation and basic training in the use of the FSC Database may be termed Phase 1 of the project. However, it is evident that, for reasons outlined in 4.2 below, further effort is required to support and advance the use of the database to a level sustainable by the FN organization. In Phase 2 of the project, emphasis will be placed on improving computer-based skills and data management capacity via enhanced training and technical support for participating FN groups.
Enhanced computer training for FN data technicians will be implemented pre-season via a multi-level computer skills workshop designed to bring all database users up to a standard level of proficiency with hardware and software, tailored to fisheries data management procedures. This professional workshop will subsequently be available to all participants online, in the format of mini-refresher courses, and/or through a post-season refresher workshop, either online or in-person, as appropriate.
Enhanced technical support will be delivered through the establishment of an FSC Data Management Advisor (DMA) position for the Upper and Mid-Fraser areas, from mid-May to mid-October 2010. This individual, ideally of local aboriginal origin, will be trained to an advanced level in all aspects of computer and FSC Database usage, and act as a “circuit-rider”, touching base on a frequent basis with all FN fisheries offices to facilitate database usage and troubleshoot data management issues. This individual will be directly assisted and mentored by the UFFCA Co-Management Facilitator position (established in 2010), and indirectly supported by the A’Tlegay Database Programmer.
OBJECTIVES
Comprehensive distribution of operational installments of the FSC Catch Monitoring Database for 2011 season
Improved capacity in basic computer usage via training program designed to bring FN users’ computer-based skill-sets up to self-sufficiency level
Improved capacity in basic FSC Catch Monitoring Database usage via training program designed to bring FN users’ FSC Data Management skill-sets up to self-sufficiency level
Enhanced capacity in advanced FSC Catch Monitoring Database usage via training program designed to bring FN users’ skill-sets up to self-sufficiency level
FSC Catch Monitoring Database used routinely by FN FSC Database technicians in-season, with transfer of catch & effort data to DFO authorities on a timely basis
Pilot the Data Mgmt Advisor (DMA) position in the Upper Fraser to assess the utility and potential of this role in assisting FN fisheries data managers, reducing Database Programmer time & costs in front-line technical support, and building long-term data management capacity within FN fisheries offices
METHODS
The activities and costs for “Phase 2” the Fraser FSC Database Project will be characterized in 2011 by an emphasis on data management training and technical support enhancement (see attachment #1), in addition to new program installations where appropriate. Training and technical support enhancement activities will focus on:
- Piloting a Data Management Advisor (DMA) position for FN FSC catch monitoring data management for the Mid- and Upper Fraser region. This individual, preferably of local aboriginal origin, will be trained to serve as the primary technical support resource for all FN fisheries offices using the FSC Database. In addition to initial program installation and setup support for participating FN fisheries offices, the DMA will be on call for general database usage trouble-shooting. The DMA will be in regular and routine contact, both in-person and on-line, with all census-based FN fisheries offices to encourage and facilitate database update/report/export functions. The DMA job specifications will be developed by A’Tlegay/UFFCA and advertised by UFFCA beginning in April 2011, in order to fill the position in time to attend computer-based training workshops, described below, in May.
- A pre-season professional computer skills workshop series will provide the foundational computer-based training for all Upper Fraser data managers, including the DMA and CMF personnel, and all FN fisheries data technicians (a.k.a. “Community Fisheries Representatives” (CFRs)). This free training will be contracted to computer systems instructor Jeremy Farrow (see attached bio), and consists of a flexible series of five independent but complementary workshops that can be recombined or rerun as required. Prospective students will be sent instructions to register for the workshops on the UFFCA web-server. Registration will include a prior knowledge assessment, which will consist of a mix of standard knowledge questions and task-based simulations. A combination of lessons on the server and in-person training will give the most effective hands-on training in the limited amount of time for workshops. Following the workshop, assessment tests will be redone to demonstrate student comprehension of the concepts presented. A final assignment will use the theory and concepts from the workshop and online lesson in a novel problem-solving scenario. This will demonstrate increase in perspective and capacity vs. static knowledge. After the workshops, participants will have access to the course content online for at least three months to solidify skill gains.
- The DMA and CMF personnel will then be given training in all usage aspects of the FSC Database by the Database Programmer, from system installation and setup, through data entry, reporting, and exporting functions, to basic trouble-shooting. This will equip the DMA and CMF to provide the same support to participating FN fisheries offices.
- New potential installations will then be identified and prioritized by the UFFCA CMF and/or DMA. Customizations, if any, will be completed by the Database Programmer, and delivered to the CMF or DMA for installation at the corresponding FN fisheries office. The CMF/DMA will organize, schedule, and perform installation procedures and CFR training sessions, in-person at FN fisheries offices, or via online meeting software, as appropriate.
- Ongoing technical support for CFRs will be handled in-season by CMF and DMA personnel, in-person or online, as appropriate.
- A post-season refresher course will be organized by the DMA & CMF for all CFRs interested, as fishing season winds down, and final data assembly and clean-up is performed, sometime in September. This course will review concepts from both the foundational computer skills and FSC Database training modules.
Depending on interest levels, an “Advanced FSC Database Usage” workshop may be provided to DMA, CMF, and CFR personnel, using online meeting software. This will be designed to stimulate interest in getting more out of the database program, with a focus on data management, customized analytical queries and report generation.
BENEFITS
* Catch monitoring of FN fisheries improves estimates of fish abundance and subsequent forecasts of brood returns, provides information about the abundance and health of target and by-catch species over time, and contributes to reduced errors in fisheries management.
* Use of the FSC Database enhances internal FN fisheries management and enables technical computer-based skill development and capacity-building within the FN fisheries staff.
Use of the FSC Database facilitates data exchange between fisheries organizations, including other First Nations, encouraging involvement in natural resource management decisions.
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