Mauritania: Management advice in the fisheries sector – Establishment of a fisheries sector data base

Project Background

The GIZ project "Management Consulting in the Fisheries Sector, Mauritania" supported the strengthening of the capacities of the responsible institutions to implement concrete measures for the responsible management of important fisheries resources. One instrument for this was a fisheries sector database (Fisheries Information System), which was implemented by the COFAD-GOPA consortium.

Objectives

The consortium was tasked with setting up a central database in the Ministry of Fisheries and Maritime Economy (MPEM). This database was to collect information from the central and decentralised directorates and institutions of the MPEM, but also from structures outside the MPEM (customs, central bank). Through a dissemination interface with different access rights, the data was made available to the various institutions involved in fisheries management, fisheries research and related data collection, as well as to the general public.

Activities and/or Results

Tasks included:

• Discussion of data collection procedures, data formats and interfaces
• Selection and identification of appropriate database software
• Selection and identification of missing hardware
• Programming of the centralised database
• Installation of the database on MPEM's server and implementation of all necessary tests
• Selection and incorporation of a national IT service provider
• Provision of training for IT staff at MPEM
• Introductory course for all users at the ministry level, including subordinate authorities, in using the database
• Writing of documentation in French

Achievements:

• Analysis of various data with relevance for the fisheries sector (including fish stocks, biodiversity, fishing fleet, fishing gear, catches and landings, values, etc.) and of their structure
• Design of a fisheries data base
• Development/Programming of a fisheries data base and interfaces
• Analysis of existing IT hard- and software and identification of requirements
• Training of IT experts
• Training of end users