Data Resources in Fisheries – Opportunities
Systematic data collection and centralized storage of primary data, along with integration with other datasets, creates many opportunities for benefits and progress in the industry
Summary
The Icelandic fishing industry possesses extensive data resources that present diverse opportunities for innovation, increased efficiency, and sustainability. Strategic data utilization can create value for businesses, society, and the environment.
1. New Possibilities with Better Data
Through systematic data collection, increased emphasis on data quality, integration of different databases, and active access control, various previously unknown opportunities for value creation in the industry become possible. This includes increased access for academic and scientific communities to this data, as well as interesting applications of artificial intelligence.
2. Data-Driven Monitoring for Better Insight
Data-driven and risk-based resource monitoring where data collection and submission are subject to time constraints, increasing their importance in oversight. Through sampling and cross-referencing larger datasets, better insight can be gained into the credibility of provided information, such as catch rates and composition in specific fishing grounds at given times. By analyzing monitoring results and behavioral patterns, risk-based monitoring can be established, making oversight more targeted, comprehensive, and efficient.
3. Data Collection Supporting Research
Through organized and coordinated sampling, it’s possible to multiply data collection for stock research. Easier access to such data for research and development environments creates opportunities for more extensive and faster data analysis that benefits fishing companies and processing facilities in decision-making and operations.
4. Better Decisions with Fishing Data
More extensive and dense data series about fishing grounds, such as catch volume, catch distribution, trawling/casting/fishing time, weather, temperature, and other fishing-related factors, can provide fishing companies and researchers with new insights and knowledge about the resource. With such data, fishing companies could, for example, better predict which fishing grounds are likely to yield results in specific periods, which fish species are most prevalent, and other relevant conditions.
5. Clearer Picture of the Resource
Authorities gain better oversight of resource utilization, performance, and status of individual factors important for its management. Monitoring bodies like the Coast Guard/maritime traffic control have all relevant ship and fishing information available in one place.
6. Centralized Databases Ensuring Security
Centralized databases and active access controls enable companies to manage which information is shared and with whom. Companies can confidently collect various information regarding both their catch (volume, species, quality, and condition) and operational costs for fishing or processing. Various additional operational information, such as energy consumption, can form the basis for corporate carbon accounting, which authorities are also interested in for their climate goals.
7. Economic Benefits Through Data Analysis
Better and deeper data analysis to assess economic benefits, e.g., which types of fishing, processing, and energy allocation are reasonable in terms of resource use and costs. This simultaneously provides knowledge that can facilitate decisions about whether to stop fishing, who gets limited permits, or where to fish more.
8. The Future Lies in New Solutions
These are just a few opportunities, and industry stakeholders are likely to identify additional possibilities. The greatest potential lies in innovation and previously unexplored processing possibilities.
Next Steps
Data collected in the fishing industry can be an inexhaustible resource benefiting the industry and its stakeholders. This data needs to be accessible in a simple manner to authorized users who can apply known and powerful processing tools.
To move closer to this vision, it is proposed that the next steps should be to define and establish a technical environment, i.e., evaluate which technical architecture might be most suitable to ensure effective data collection and good access for authorized users in a known standardized format. The Icelandic state has established a digital strategy aimed at connecting multiple parties, ensuring secure data exchange. This is the approach we recommend for implementation.
Simultaneously, it is necessary to establish a stakeholder working group to propose practical data projects. These projects should be prioritized, starting with simple pilot projects
