An update on the Bycatch Management Information System (BMIS): developments in 2018-19 including the integration of data visualisation and mapping for bycatch data

Citation
Fitzsimmons L, Abraham E, Caillot S, Smith N (2019) An update on the Bycatch Management Information System (BMIS): developments in 2018-19 including the integration of data visualisation and mapping for bycatch data. In: WCPFC Scientific Committee 15th Regular Session. WCPFC-SC15-2019/EB-IP-01, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, p 17
Abstract

The WCPFC Bycatch Management Information System (BMIS) is an online resource for fisheries
managers, scientists, fishers, educators and the public (see Figure 1). The database consolidates
information on the mitigation and management of species of special interest, including seabirds, sharks
and rays, marine turtles and marine mammals, incidentally caught in the pelagic tuna and billfish fisheries
of the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO).
The Bycatch Data Exchange Protocol (BDEP) is a format standardised public domain regional bycatch
data summary. The WCPFC BDEP tables now are updated annually and available at
www.wcpfc.int/node/29966. This work has improved the quality of, and access to WCPFC bycatch data.
BMIS has been significantly expanded and redeveloped with funding from the FAO Common Oceans
(Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction - ABNJ) Tuna Project over the period 2015-2019 (Clarke and Smith,
2019). This project has also funded development and improvements of the WCPFC BDEP tables. This
paper provides an update on project tasks related to BMIS and BDEP in the final year of funding (to 31
August 2019). Further detail about the previous developments can be found in Fitzsimmons et al. (2015, 2017, and 2018), Williams et al. (2016 and 2017), and Williams (2018).