Logbook vs e-Logbook
Fishermen in Ambon Bay Get the First Chance to Test e-Logbooks. Asosiasi Perikanan Pole and Line dan Handline Indonesia (AP2HI), in collaboration with the Indonesia Agency for Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), the Sub Directorate of Monitoring and Evaluation, Directorate of Fish Resources/ Sumber Daya Ikan (SDI), and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (MMAF), provided technical assistance for the trial of e-logbooks with fishermen and ports in 3 different places in Eastern Indonesia, namely Ambon, Sorong and Bitung.
e-logbook is an electronic version of the development program of logbook conducted by BPPT which facilitates the captain’s submition of fishing and operational activities after every fishing trip; an obligation for Indonesia’s registered fishing vessels or any fishing vessels having size more than 5 Gross Tonnage (GT) as set out in Minister Decree Number 48 of 2014. e-logbook help the government to obtain data accurately and quickly in order to preventing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).
Heri, AP2HI’s PVR Coordinator, joined the fishing trips with Surya Mas, Pole and Line ship in the Bay of Ambon from 26 June to 28 June 2015 and accompanied the fishermen testing the e-logbook program making observations of the test directly at PT. Aneka Sumber Tata Bahari (ASTB).
“During this time it is rather difficult to fishermen using manual logbook that has many columns and with the risk of paper that is easy to fly, or even disappear, moreover, most of them are less trained to taking a note, and they even have to memorize the codes of species, and number of catch, so then many fishermen and fishing vessels are rarely to filled out the data ” said Heri.
Heri added, “e-logbook greatly facilitate the fishermen now and there is no reason for the fishermen to not fill the data because by simply pressing 5 until 6 buttons, fishermen already provides the data type of the fish and number of catch, complete with GPS data information and the name of the vessel.”
One of the fishermen try to operate the e-logbook
The purpose of the e-logbook trial is to determine the constraints that occur in the field which later can be input to the BPPT for the development of mass-production of e-logbook in the future. It is also expected that intensive training will enable fisherman to cope with any techncial damage that may occur at sea.
Tita Nopitawati, Coordinator of the FIP, said, “To date, through our Fisheries Improvement Program, FIP, we still continue to raise the awareness of the people who are involved in fisheries activities, so that they are more concerned to the fill the logbook correctly, in addition to getting a real catch data, we can also figure out the side catches and the ETP (Endangered Threat and Protected species) which are protected animals.”
On-Board Observer
As an association that wants to lead in getting MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certification for the pole and handline gears, AP2HI in collaboration with the Sub Directorate Monitoring and Evaluation of the SDI MMAF, has prepared 50 official observers where the first of 15 observer will be placed on the pole and line vessels that are members of AP2HI. The observers will monitor the member’s vessels to ensure that they comply with IUU fishing rules as well as actively participate in the activities of the national fisheries improvement program.
Author: Kirana Agustina
