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Ofer Gon , Gavin Gouws and Monica Mwale

This course aims to equip fisheries law enforcement officers with the necessary skills to identify fish species and defend identifications in court cases. The program covers fish morphology, classification, scientific names, and the use of identification keys. Practical sessions and tests enhance learning outcomes. Despite initial challenges, learners showed motivation and acquired new knowledge, indicating the need for further practical experience. Acknowledgments are extended to SAIAB and DEAT for their support.

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Ofer Gon , Gavin Gouws and Monica Mwale

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  1. Fish identification course for fisheries law enforcement officers: Communicating scientific principles and methods where none existed Ofer Gon, Gavin Gouws and Monica Mwale South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa

  2. The Learners • DEAT fisheries law enforcement officers • Age group: 23-39 • Education: Matric certificate with little or no knowledge of biology

  3. Job description – Why do the course? • Enforcing fishing regulations (Marine Living Resource Act) through: • beach patrols • Boat inspections • Testifying in court cases of illegal fishers and poachers Must be able to identify the fishes and defend the identification in court

  4. Course objectives • Learning the different parts (morphology) of the body of the fish • Learning to take counts and measurements from a fish specimens and how they are used

  5. Fish Morphology

  6. Classification Family: Sciaenidae Genus: Argyrosomus Species: japonicus Scientific Names Carcharias taurus Argyrosomusjaponicus Course objectives • Understanding certain concepts, eg, scientific names, classification

  7. Course objectives • Learning about and using identification keys – Biological similarity

  8. Course programme Day 1 • Tour of SAIAB and the fish collection • Internet and library resources • Fish morphology and its methodology • Working with specimens - practical

  9. Course programme Day 2 • The marine environment • Fish systematics (names and classification) • Identification keys and how they work • Fish identification - practical

  10. Course programme Days 3 & 4 • The coelacanth story • Fish identification – practical • Practical test

  11. Expected learning about particular species Too scientific, a lot of terminology, course too short Lab chairs uncomfortable, sensitivity to alcohol fumes Questionnaire results

  12. Course highlights

  13. Many learners expressed a wish for more courses Course experience

  14. Teachers’ observations • Learners had inadequate skills in maths – could not calculate percentages without assistance and did not understand proportions • They were weak in terms English language reading and comprehension, and general knowledge • They had a difficulty with abstract thinking and little analytical skill (at least partly due to language) • These weaknesses required much teacher – learner interaction • Nevertheless, they were generally highly motivated to increase their knowledge practical skills

  15. Conclusions • By their own admission, the learners acquired a lot of new knowledge, but they will need more practical experience under supervision to become proficient and confident in fish identification • Considering their educational background, the novelty of the subject and the duration of the course the learners performed well • There is a need to develop a more user-friendly fish identification tool

  16. Acknowledgements We thank management, and members of staff of SAIAB and DEAT for their assistance and support in running the fish identification courses.

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