‘The data project’

We want to make life easier for fishers and the fish!

The need: Fisheries management is incredibly complex and as a result, as an industry, finds itself being reactive to changes in fish stocks leaving some on the back foot (or fin). The relationship between fishers and policy makers can sometimes resemble that of a taxpayer and tax authorities. Top-down policies have the potential to overlook local realities leading to inefficiency and resentment on all sides.

Our plan: Currently, fishers lack context to fisheries data outputs, while regulators miss out on fishers’ invaluable on-the-ground insights. This fragmented data landscape hinders sustainable practices and collaborative management, but what if that wasn’t the case…

Kai’s Data Monitoring Project

There is already a huge amount of incredible Ocean data available, and there are many different data tools and solutions already in existence. 

But in many cases, these tools aren’t easy to access or use and they don’t offer practical information and insights that would assist local communities of fishers, requiring a background in data management for use.

Our Approach…

  • Kai is building relationships with the fishing industry through individual connections, workshops and experience, aiming to bridge communication gaps between fishers, policymakers, and regulators. The inshore fleet is where we have started to establish strong partnerships before scaling up. Over time, we plan to expand not just to other segments of the commercial fleet but also the recreational sector and other users of the marine space, fostering trust and collaboration to support conservation, local economies, and ocean wellbeing.

  • Ongoing stakeholder communications, workshops, and interviews will guide the design of a data dashboard that integrates experience with real-time data, ensuring two-way information flow.

    In Phase 1, the dashboard will be trialled in a small fishing community where close communication and limited geographical spread will help demonstrate its benefits effectively.

    Phase 2 will expand to larger communities and fleets, requiring more resources, broader stakeholder involvement, and support from NGOs and governmental organisations.

  • The data collected from these initiatives will take many forms and support research on fishery management.