Fisheries Resource Information System and Tools (FIRST) : user manual

The User Manual of the Fisheries Resource Information System and Tools (FiRST) version 2000 documents the database system that was developed under ADB-RETA 5766. As envisioned, the database system contains extant trawl surveys and generic socioeconomic data, as well as catch and effort statistics. Basic analytical routines such as models to approximate biomasses have also been developed and made an integral part of FiRST. Analytical modules from other software needed for data analyses have been made accessible via the database system. To facilitate the use of these external softwares, modules have been developed to allow the saving of data in the required format.The database system currently contains data on about 21,000 hauls/stations provided by the eight participating countries together with published data from Singapore, Myanmar and Pakistan. Data access protocols were agreed during the Inception Phase of the project. Countries providing the trawl data grant permission for the release of data provided by that country. The FiRST software has been distributed to the eight DMCs and copies of the software can be requested from the Center. Substantive retrospective analysis of FiRST extant trawl survey data in the Resource and Socioeconomic Analyses Component of the project provided a better understanding of the biological status of the coastal fishery resources. With the development of this database system, the Center anticipates that FiRST will be extremely useful in providing solid foundations for appropriate strategies and action plans at the national and regional levels.