On June 30, 2025, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) held a training session for fisheries technicians from the Maputo Provincial Delegation of the Mozambique Oceanographic Institute (InOM), with the aim of strengthening technical skills in collecting data on sharks and rays caught in artisanal fisheries.
Eleven people took part in the training, including technicians from InOM and members of the WCS team. The main focus was on the use of the KOBO Collect application, a tool that allows for the safe and structured collection of data in the field. During the session, the technicians were trained in:
- Ethical practices in the collection of data on human subjects, with an emphasis on security, consent, privacy and the protection of interviewees;
- Improving sampling techniques in artisanal shark and ray fishing using the Kobo Collect application.
The practical component played a central role, allowing participants to directly handle the KOBO Collect application. The trainees strengthened their skills on how to enter data in real time and how to correctly use the materials needed to collect information. As part of the technical support, WCS provided the participants with some of the essential materials for fieldwork, such as cell phones, scales and measuring tapes.
This training is part of WCS's ongoing efforts to strengthen the monitoring of marine biodiversity and promote the sustainable management of fisheries resources in Mozambique.