DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROJECT WATCH: WEB-BASED ANALYTICS AND TRACKING FOR CATCH AND HARVEST MONITORING AMONG COASTAL FISHERFOLKS

Coastal fisheries significantly contribute to local economies and food security in Philippine coastal communities, particularly in Aparri, Cagayan, where fishing remains a primary livelihood. However, monitoring of catch and harvest activities largely relies on manual recording methods, resulting in delayed, inconsistent, and unreliable data that hinder effective fisheries management and evidence-based decision-making. This study developed and evaluated Project WATCH: Web-based Analytics and Tracking for Catch and Harvest Monitoring, a technology-driven system designed to improve fisheries data collection and monitoring processes. Using a developmental research design, the study implemented a web-based platform capable of real-time monitoring, digital record management, and geospatial tracking of fishing activities. The system collected catch, effort, and location data to generate analytical outputs, including Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) and fishing hotspot mapping. System evaluation was conducted using ISO 25010:2023 software quality standards and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). IT experts assessed system quality attributes, while end users evaluated usability and acceptance through structured questionnaires analyzed using weighted mean. Results indicated an overall system quality mean of 4.76 (Very High Extent) and an end-user acceptance mean of 4.27 (Strongly Agree), demonstrating strong performance and high adoption readiness. Findings suggest that Project WATCH enhances monitoring accuracy, transparency, and data-driven fisheries governance, supporting sustainable resource management and coastal community resilience.