In an effort to improve its fisheries data collection program, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) will hold a meeting with St. Thomas and St. John fishermen on Thursday. The meeting will be conducted in two phases: from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and from 7 to 10 p.m. at Planning’s conference room at Cyril E. King Airport.
"For so many years, we’ve been hearing that we submitted insufficient data," said Beulah Dalmida-Smith, director of Planning’s Fish and Wildlife Division.
The evening session will summarize the daytime meeting and will provide an overview of the need to improve data collection methodologies, Planning Commissioner Robert Mathes said in a press release.
Dalmida-Smith hopes that fishermen will attend as much of the lengthy meeting as they can.
In addition to local fishermen, those expected to attend include: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration representatives, stock-assessment scientists, DPNR personnel, and representatives from the fishermen’s associations and advisory committees.
For the data collection program to work, Dalmida-Smith said that fishermen must "buy in" to it.
Collection of the data is necessary so managers can use the science generated by the data to make good decisions, Dalmida-Smith said.
The purpose of the meeting is to allow fishermen and the community to participate in discussions with federal and territorial representatives on fisheries management, provide their views and receive an update on progress of the data-improvement workshop.
Dalmida-Smith estimated there are over 100 commercial fishermen on St. Thomas and St. John.
Planning collects data from commercial fishermen as well as recreational fishermen who participate in tournaments, Dalmida-Smith said.
A similar meeting was held Nov. 16 and 17 on St. Croix.
Puerto Rico also has an insufficient fisheries data collection program and is working to improve it, Dalmida-Smith said.
For more information, call Dalmida-Smith at 775-6762.