FMS - TRAP EDITION the first edition in the FMS product line, allows fishermen to track and manage information on daily trap fishing activities including trawl location, catch/landings, weather, trap configuration, and expenses. Extensive reporting, graphing, and plotting features let fishermen quickly view data to help make decisions to improve efficiency and focus fishing effort.
Designed by fishermen for fishermen, FMS takes on-board electronics to the next level, helping to make better, faster decisions with the vast information at hand.
Product Goals
The main goals of FMS are to:
- Aid fishermen in the collection of fisheries related data – catch levels, effort, weather conditions.
- Provide information analysis, reporting, and charting capabilities to fishermen to make better decisions in their fishing activities.
- Provide a means for the collection and sharing of data for fisheries management plans and policies with government and regulatory agencies.
The development of FMS is based on the lack of existing data collection and analysis software within the fishing industry, particularly for the inshore and mid-shore fishing fleets. Leveraging on the extensive IT knowledge and experience of Schooner Solutions and combining industry experience through close associations with industry experts the end goal is to develop a world class solution that is design by and for the fishermen, meeting their needs to track and analyze catch and related data and in turn make better decisions in their daily fishing and overall management of the fisheries.
DBMS
FMS is a DBMS specifically designed for the collection and analysis of information involved in trap/fixed gear based fisheries.
In its simplest terms, a DBMS (database management system) is:
A collection of programs that enables you to store, modify, and extract information from a database. There are many different types of DBMSs, ranging from small systems that run on personal computers to huge systems that run on mainframes. The following are examples of database applications:
- computerized library systems
- automated teller machines
- flight reservation systems
- computerized parts inventory systems
The information from a database can be presented in a variety of formats. Most DBMSs include a report writer program that enables you to output data in the form of a report. Many DBMSs also include a graphics component that enables you to output information in the form of graphs and charts.
Key Features
The key elements planned for the initial versions of FMS are:
- Data entry screens to capture details on each trawl and trap configuration (trawl #, description, traps on trawl, trap ordering, tag #, description, dimensions, head styles, layout)
- User defined lists for key data such as bait types, depth ranges, fishing areas, trap elements, etc. This allows the fishermen to work in their own terms and add new items as needed and not be forced into those of an external system.
- User defined lists for species, size, grades, sex, etc. This allows the fisherman to tailor the data collection to their specific needs for each season. Entries to track items such as canners, markets, spawn, v-notched, etc can be simply added to the list as desired.
- Data entry screens to capture daily weather/environmental conditions and general daily notes (wind speed/direction, barometric readings, temperature)
- Data entry screens to capture daily total landings and expenses
- Data entry screen to capture trawl/trap catches levels, bait use, and general notes.
- Variety of summary reports, graphs, charts for various conditions, catches, traps.
- Plotted catch patterns to visually show total catches in a traditional “plotter/chart” style display
- Standard NMEA interface with GPS and depth sounder to automatically capture trawl locations and depth
- Password protected login and secured database
By tying a variety of information together the system allows the fisherman to analyze trends and see links between various conditions and outside factors that impact performance or fishing areas, trap designs, bait types, etc. The fisherman will have the power to ask the “what ifs” about various relationships that would otherwise be a major time consuming process if done by pen and paper.
Some of the possible questions that could be put to system by simply running a report or chart:
- What trap/trawl performed the best this day/week/season?
- How does bottom temperature impact catch levels? What areas are better at what temperatures?
- What areas fish best under various weather conditions?
- Which baits performed the best in each area, for each week, under which temperatures?
- What was my total bait use for the season by type, and which had the best average catch?
- What areas have a higher percentage of spawn and at what time of the year?
- How did the overall catch compare to previous seasons?
- What percentage of short and spawn lobsters were seen this season? How does this compare to other seasons?
This system brings the ability to not only collect and store fishing information but analyze data that can help the average fisherman in their daily fishing activities. Instead of paging through hand written notebooks, fishermen can have an electronic archive of years of fishing activity that will allow them to review past seasons, check on the performance of different trap designs, determine best bait types, etc, all at the click of a mouse. As soon as data is entered into the system the fisherman is able to see summaries that would otherwise take days to work out by hand. Also by having the data processed electronically, it removes the biases that a person may use when looking at information, bending it to fit what they “feel” is right. The goal of this “decision support system” is to allow the fisherman to make better decisions to allow for more efficient fishing, thus reducing bait and fuel costs, reducing steaming time, improve gear development, target fishing activities at the right time with the right tools in the right location.
In addition to the ability to aid the fisherman directly, it also provides a means to report catch and effort data to DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) for use in fisheries management. Simple reports and data exports will allow ease of sharing of the collected data with regulator and management groups within the industry.
With FMS fishermen are fully in control and own all of the data they collect. The information is not locked away by an outside company and there are no monthly fees required to view the information. The fisherman is fully in control of who can access the data and how they make use of it.
Also being a PC based program, and running on standard computer hardware that is now common place in most homes, the user is not locked into a sealed black box that cannot be easily upgraded over time. Software updates will bring new features to FMS as it evolves based on the feedback that the fishermen provide. The system will be able to grow to meet the needs of the users, and not be a single feature box that becomes easily outdated.
Extensive use of charts and graphs put the data into visual terms that are easier to understand than spreadsheets of numerical data.
Due to the newness of PC applications within the industry, a key in the design will be ease of use. Special attention is has been placed on making the system as simple to use as possible, with limited keystrokes requirements to enter data. The system needs to be a tool used by the fishermen and not an extra major workload that they must take on. The system is also designed so that it can be used either directly on the vessel or off-site at the fisherman’s home for those not wanting to have ship based PC systems.
Data Sharing/Fisheries Management
In addition to the collection and analysis of data for the individual fishermen using the system, the data also holds great value in the management of the fishery as a whole. One of the major issues facing those trying to protect and maintain the industry for the future and ensure it remains successful is the ongoing collection of species data. Typically this is done via small research projects or voluntary logbook programs. However the major issue facing these programs is lack of resources to properly collect a wide sample of data.
With the current logbook process the data flow is also one-way and offers little direct value to the individual fisherman. By having the system provide feedback that improves the fishermen’s activities there is more reason to collect the information. The task becomes one of self benefit as opposed to an additional outside task with no direct gains.
Fishermen have also expressed a desire and need to become more involved in the management process over recent years. Through sharing of information collected through FMS, a better view of species levels can be determined over a larger area and involve those most closely involved in the fishery. Scientists and management officials would then be able to see what the fisherman sees while fishing. This becomes a better situation for all parties as the fishermen gain the benefit of entering the data to improve their own catch performance and fishing efficiencies and the scientists receive better information for management plans.
Minimum System Requirements
- Microsoft Windows® 98, ME, NT 4.0, 2000, XP
- Pentium 166, PII 500 or higher recommended
- 32 MB of RAM, 128 MB or higher recommended
- CD-ROM Drive
- SVGA monitor 800x600 with depth of 256 colors
- Optional NMEA compliant GPS and depth sounder
For those fishermen that do not already have the necessary computer system to run the program, Schooner Solutions provides complete package systems with a mini PC setup, monitor, operating system, and FMS software.
Availability
FMS - Trap Edition is currently undergoing final modifications and testing. The final version is planned for release in 2006.
A free demo version will also be made available via the website and by mail following the show. Please watch this page for updated details in the months ahead.
If your interested in learning more about FMS please contact us by phone or email.