PROCFish/C - Socio-Economic survey 2007
Marshall Islands, 2007
Coastal Fisheries Programme
Identification
IDNO
SPC_MHL_2007_SE-PROCFISH_v01_M_v01_A_PUF
Title
PROCFish/C - Socio-Economic survey 2007
Translated Title
Enquête Socio-Economique du Programme Régional de Développement des Pêches Océaniques et Côtières 2007
Country
| Name | Country code |
|---|---|
| Marshall Islands | MHL |
Abstract
The Pacific Regional Coastal Fisheries Development Programme (CoFish) conducted fieldwork in four locations around the Marshall Islands in August and September 2007. The Marshall Islands is one of 17 Pacific Island countries and territories being surveyed over a 5–6 year period by CoFish or its associated programme PROCFish/C (Pacific Regional Oceanic and Coastal Fisheries Development Programme – Coastal Component).
The aim of the survey work was to provide baseline information on the status of reef fisheries, and to help fill the massive information gap that hinders the effective management of reef fisheries.
Other programme outputs include:
• implementation of the first comprehensive multi-country comparative assessment of reef fisheries (finfish, invertebrates and socioeconomics) ever undertaken in the Pacific Islands region using identical methodologies at each site;
• dissemination of country reports that comprise a set of ‘reef fisheries profiles’ for the sites in each country in order to provide information for coastal fisheries development and management planning;
• development of a set of indicators (or reference points to fishery status) to provide guidance when developing local and national reef fishery management plans and monitoring programmes; and
• development of data and information management systems, including regional and national databases.
Survey work in Marshall Islands covered three disciplines (finfish, invertebrate and socioeconomic) in each site, with programme scientists and several local counterparts from the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA). The fieldwork included capacity building for the local counterparts through instruction on survey methodologies in all three disciplines, including the collection of data and inputting the data into the programme’s database.
In Marshall Islands, the four sites selected for the survey were Likiep Atoll, Ailuk Atoll, Arno Atoll and Laura, on Majuro Atoll.
The aim of the survey work was to provide baseline information on the status of reef fisheries, and to help fill the massive information gap that hinders the effective management of reef fisheries.
Other programme outputs include:
• implementation of the first comprehensive multi-country comparative assessment of reef fisheries (finfish, invertebrates and socioeconomics) ever undertaken in the Pacific Islands region using identical methodologies at each site;
• dissemination of country reports that comprise a set of ‘reef fisheries profiles’ for the sites in each country in order to provide information for coastal fisheries development and management planning;
• development of a set of indicators (or reference points to fishery status) to provide guidance when developing local and national reef fishery management plans and monitoring programmes; and
• development of data and information management systems, including regional and national databases.
Survey work in Marshall Islands covered three disciplines (finfish, invertebrate and socioeconomic) in each site, with programme scientists and several local counterparts from the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA). The fieldwork included capacity building for the local counterparts through instruction on survey methodologies in all three disciplines, including the collection of data and inputting the data into the programme’s database.
In Marshall Islands, the four sites selected for the survey were Likiep Atoll, Ailuk Atoll, Arno Atoll and Laura, on Majuro Atoll.
Kind of Data
Sample survey data [ssd]
Version
Version number
Version 01: This is the final, clean, labelled and anonymized version of the Master file.
Version Date
2007-09-30
Scope
Keywords
| Keyword |
|---|
| Socio-economic |
| Fisheries |
| Finfish |
| Invertebrates |
| Consumption |
| Subsistence |
| Gift |
| Sale |
| Fishing techniques |
| Habitat |
Coverage
Geographic Coverage
In Marshall Islands, the four sites selected for the survey were Likiep Atoll, Ailuk Atoll, Arno Atoll and Laura, on Majuro Atoll.
Unit of Analysis
Household and Individual (Finfish fishers; Invertebrate fishers; Key informants; Shop owners).
Universe
The survey covered de jure household members. All household members responding the "Finfishers" and "Invertebrate fishers" questionnaires must be aged 15 years and over and must be living in the household surveyed.
Producers and sponsors
Authoring entity/Primary investigators
| Agency Name | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Coastal Fisheries Programme | Pacific Community (SPC) |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Reef Fisheries Observatory | Technical assistance |
Funding Agency/Sponsor
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| European Commission | Funding |
Other Identifications/Acknowledgments
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority | Government of the Marshall Islands | In-country assistance |
| College of the Marshall Islands | Air compressors and lodging facilities | |
| National Research Authority | Lending medical kits |
Sampling
Sampling Procedure
At each site the extent of the community to be covered by the socioeconomic survey is determined by the size, nature and use of the fishing grounds. This selection process is highly dependent on local marine tenure rights. For example, in the case of community-owned fishing rights, a fishing community includes all villages that have access to a particular fishing ground. If the fisheries of all the villages concerned are comparable, one or two villages may be selected as representative samples, and consequently surveyed. Results will then be extrapolated to include all villages accessing the same fishing grounds under the same marine tenure system.
Most of the households included in the survey are chosen by simple random selection, as are the finfish and invertebrate fishers associated with any of these households. In addition, important participants in one or several particular fisheries may be selected for complementary surveying. Random sampling is used to provide an average and representative picture of the fishery situation in each community, including those who do not fish, those engaged in finfish and/or invertebrate fishing for subsistence, and those engaged in fishing activities on a small-scale artisanal basis. This assumption applies provided that selected communities are mostly traditional, relatively small (~100-300 households) and (from a socioeconomic point of view) largely homogenous. Similarly, gender and participation patterns (types of fishers by gender and fishery) revealed through the surveys are assumed to be representative of the entire community. Accordingly, harvest figures reported by male and female fishers participating in a community's various fisheries may be extrapolated to assess the impacts resulting from the entire community, sample size permitting (at least 25-30% of all households).
Most of the households included in the survey are chosen by simple random selection, as are the finfish and invertebrate fishers associated with any of these households. In addition, important participants in one or several particular fisheries may be selected for complementary surveying. Random sampling is used to provide an average and representative picture of the fishery situation in each community, including those who do not fish, those engaged in finfish and/or invertebrate fishing for subsistence, and those engaged in fishing activities on a small-scale artisanal basis. This assumption applies provided that selected communities are mostly traditional, relatively small (~100-300 households) and (from a socioeconomic point of view) largely homogenous. Similarly, gender and participation patterns (types of fishers by gender and fishery) revealed through the surveys are assumed to be representative of the entire community. Accordingly, harvest figures reported by male and female fishers participating in a community's various fisheries may be extrapolated to assess the impacts resulting from the entire community, sample size permitting (at least 25-30% of all households).
Data Collection
Dates of Data Collection (YYYY/MM/DD)
| Start date | End date | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| 2007-08-01 | 2007-09-30 | Data collection |
Mode of data collection
Face-to-face [f2f]
Supervision
The team leader should follow up on data gaps identified after filling in the checklist and assign tasks for collecting the missing data accordingly. Most of this missing data should be collected during survey implementation in the respective community(ies).
Type of Research Instrument
The questionnaires are designed to allow a minimum dataset to be developed for each site, one that allows:
• the community’s dependency on marine resources to be characterised;
• assessment of the community’s engagement in and the possible impact of finfish and invertebrate harvesting; and
• comparison of socioeconomic information with data collected through PROCFish/C resource surveys.
The questionnaires are divided into 4 main areas:
-Household Survey => incorporating demographics, selected socioeconomic parameters and consumption patterns;
-Survey of fishers (finfish and invertebrate) => incorporating data by habitat and/or specific fishery;
-A general questionnaire targeting key informants => the purpose of which is to assess the overall characteristics of the site's fisheries;
-Finfish and invertebrate marketing questionnaires => that target agents, middlemen or buyers/sellers (shops and markets).
In addition to the questionnaires, two sets of size charts are provided to help assess the weight of fish and invertebrates caught and consumed. This is necessary as most village fishers do not use kilograms but local units of measure (heaps, plastic bags, strings, baskets, etc.), which are difficult to translate into kilogram weights.
Data collection is performed using a standard set of questionnaires developed by PROCFish/C’s socioeconomic component, which include a household survey (key socioeconomic parameters and consumption patterns), finfish fisheries survey, invertebrate fisheries survey, marketing of finfish survey, marketing of invertebrates survey, and general information questionnaire (for key informants). In addition, further observations and relevant details are noted and recorded in a non-standardised format.
Questionnaires are fully structured and closed, although open questions may be added on a case-to-case situation.
• the community’s dependency on marine resources to be characterised;
• assessment of the community’s engagement in and the possible impact of finfish and invertebrate harvesting; and
• comparison of socioeconomic information with data collected through PROCFish/C resource surveys.
The questionnaires are divided into 4 main areas:
-Household Survey => incorporating demographics, selected socioeconomic parameters and consumption patterns;
-Survey of fishers (finfish and invertebrate) => incorporating data by habitat and/or specific fishery;
-A general questionnaire targeting key informants => the purpose of which is to assess the overall characteristics of the site's fisheries;
-Finfish and invertebrate marketing questionnaires => that target agents, middlemen or buyers/sellers (shops and markets).
In addition to the questionnaires, two sets of size charts are provided to help assess the weight of fish and invertebrates caught and consumed. This is necessary as most village fishers do not use kilograms but local units of measure (heaps, plastic bags, strings, baskets, etc.), which are difficult to translate into kilogram weights.
Data collection is performed using a standard set of questionnaires developed by PROCFish/C’s socioeconomic component, which include a household survey (key socioeconomic parameters and consumption patterns), finfish fisheries survey, invertebrate fisheries survey, marketing of finfish survey, marketing of invertebrates survey, and general information questionnaire (for key informants). In addition, further observations and relevant details are noted and recorded in a non-standardised format.
Questionnaires are fully structured and closed, although open questions may be added on a case-to-case situation.
Data Collectors
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Fisheries Programme | CFP | Pacific Community (SPC) |
| Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority | Government of the Marshall Islands |
Data Processing
Cleaning Operations
A software programme (SEMCoS) has been developed in tandem with this manual to assist in automatically performing all necessary analysis and producing outputs for the data collected.
Other Processing
Data from all questionnaire forms are entered in the Reef Fisheries Integrated Database (RFID) system. All data entered are first verified and ‘cleaned’ prior to analysis. In the process of data entry, a comprehensive list of vernacular and corresponding scientific names for finfish and invertebrate species is developed.
Database queries have been defined and established that allow automatic retrieval of the descriptive statistics used when summarising results at the site and national levels.
Database queries have been defined and established that allow automatic retrieval of the descriptive statistics used when summarising results at the site and national levels.
Data access
Contact
| Name | Affiliation | URI |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Fisheries Programmes | Pacific Community (SPC) | https://coastfish.spc.int/ |
Conditions
Public-use file, accessible to all.
Citation requirement
"Pacific Community's Coastal Fisheries Programme, Marshall Islands PROCFish/C - Socio-Economic survey 2007 (SE-PROCFISH 2007), Version 01 of the public-use dataset (2007), provided by the Microdata Library. https://microdata.pacificdata.org/index.php/home"
Disclaimer and copyrights
Disclaimer
The user of the data acknowledges that the original collector of the data, the authorized distributor of the data, and the relevant funding agency bear no responsibility for use of the data or for interpretations or inferences based upon such uses.
Contacts
Contact
| Name | Affiliation | URI |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Fisheries Programme | Pacific Community (SPC) | https://coastfish.spc.int/ |
Metadata production
Document ID
DDI_SPC_MHL_2007_SE-PROCFISH_v01_M_v01_A_PUF
Producers
| Name | Abbreviation | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Statistics for Development Division | SDD | Pacific Community | Documentation of the study |
Date of Production
2020-07-15
Document version
Version 01 (July 2020): This is the first attempt at documenting the 2007 Pacific Regional Oceanic and Coastal Fisheries Development Programme Socio-Economic survey of the Marshall Islands. Done by Statistics for Development Division at Noumea, New Caledonia.