A national tuna data workshop has been held in Solomon Islands to improve the management of information about the key resource.
Tuna is the second biggest export earner in Solomon Islands so data on tuna catches and other fishing related activities within the country's EEZ must be recorded and properly managed to ensure the industry's long term sustainability.
The National Tuna Data Coordinator, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Edward Honiwala says the workshop, run by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community, aimed to raise the skills of the data officers.
It was followed by a special session at which women observers discussed particular aspects of their role as observers on fishing vessels, which generally have all-male crews.
Issues such as safety, gender awareness, training in how to handle incidents on board the fishing vessels, employment and government policies were discussed to identify how conditions could be improved.
