This methodological guide for profiling fishing fleets presents the basic principles for carrying out a reliable and rigorous typology. The various stages are illustrated by various specific examples, but no matter what fisheries or fishing units are concerned, the same basic statistical techniques are required, whether for the collection of information or its processing.
The principal objective in producing a profile is to analyse a complex set of data characterized by a great number of individuals (here, the fishing vessels/units or fishing operations) and variables. Precise rules exist for the analysis of data, and the power of these methods to extract relevant information from complex data, relevant to the questions posed, should not blind users to the fact that technical competence is necessary to apply them properly. The availability of user-friendly analytical software often leads to abuses in the application of these techniques, and a certain minimum of knowledge in the theoretical basis of these methods is necessary. Specific practical (not theory-oriented) training courses make it possible to avoid misusing these techniques. The methods presented here on "Data Analysis" are particularly adapted to the exploration of the structure of data on environmental or human systems; they make it possible to clarify their complexity and lead to syntheses useful in understanding and decision-making. Implementing a fleet profile helps in understanding the dynamics of the fishery system and provides the elements relevant to its management.
Modern approaches to fisheries management require full consideration of the interactions between the natural environment, resources and associated species exploited, and their uses, and thus the behaviour of the various actors (the Nature-Society relationship). Quantitative and more ecosystemic indicators must be defined in order to answer the new challenges inherent in taking a precautionary approach to the exploitation of renewable resources, and to ensure the continued economic viability of fisheries. The profiling of fishing fleets contributes to the definition of these indicators and leads to a better understanding of the interactions between Nature and Society.
