A planned interactive voice response (IVR) system rollout by the Western Australian Department of Fisheries (DoF) has been delayed.
The system was meant to go live on 15 October .
DoF regional services director, Bruno Mezzatesta, said the implementation won't go live until there is time for all stakeholders to comfortably adopt the technology.
“At present there is significant change occurring in WA's rock lobster fishery with the transition to quota, and the delay in implementing IVR will give the Department of Fisheries extra time to work with the commercial fishers who will use the system.”
Mezzatesta said it is examining the implementation of new technologies across a range of commercial fisheries.
This is likely to include the use of a web portal to enable online interaction with commercial operators.
The IVR system will act as a self-service platform for commercial fishers to submit information about which grounds they are fishing on and details on the size and species of their catch using the keypad of landline, mobile or satellite telephone.
Once catch information is lodged by a commercial fisher, DoF compliance officers are immediately notified of the data which can then be used in planning and the production of reports.
The system will also help commercial fishers through allowing them to remotely query their remaining catch quota balances.
According to the DoF, a key element in the management plans of several of the commercial fisheries in Western Australia was the allocation and monitoring of an individual and transferable quota of catch. The IVR system would help support this longer-term goal by ensuring that information was received in a timely and verifiable manner.