The North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program

1
The North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program

2
Overview

• Brief History
• The Observer Program and the Alaska Groundfish
  Fishery
• Todays Observer Program
• Mission and Goals
• Who we are and what we do
• Partnerships
• Looking to the future

3
History 1970s and 1980s

• 1976 - Establishment of Foreign Fishery Observer
  Program following Magnuson Act authorization
• 1986 - First NMFS Observers placed on domestic
  vessels
• 1990 A comprehensive Domestic Observer Program
  begins operations

4
History The 1990s

• Groundfish fisheries fully domestic by 1991
• Bycatch, marine mammal and seabird concerns
  increase
• Observer responsibilities increase
• Partnership with UAA Observer Training Center
  developed
• Field offices established

5
Todays Observer Program

• MISSION
• Provide fishery dependent data to promote
  stewardship of North Pacific living marine
  resources
• PRODUCTS
• Catch and bycatch information for quota
  monitoring and management of groundfish and
  prohibited species
• Catch and biological data and samples for stock
  assessment
• Documentation of fishery/protected species
  interactions
• Observations and samples for marine ecosystem
  research
• Compliance monitoring data

6
Todays Observer Program

• Coverage Requirements
• 100 on vessels 125 LOA or longer
• 30 on vessels 60 124.9 LOA ( all pot boats)
• Shore plant coverage based on monthly deliveries
• Additional coverage for some programs
• Over 35,000 data collection days each year

7
Todays Observer Program

• Program structure
• NMFS trains and certifies observers
• NMFS certifies observer contractors
• Industry pays contractors directly for observer
  services (13-14M/yr)
• NMFS pays costs for agency staff, UAA training
  center, observer gear, etc (4.8M/yr)

8
Todays Observer Program

• Who We Are
• 40 Staff located in Seattle, Anchorage, Dutch
  Harbor Kodiak
• University of Alaska Observer Training Center in
  Anchorage
• 5 Observer Contractors
• gt 300 Observers

9
Todays Observer Program

• Observer Professionalism
• High quality data requires high quality observers
• Ability to work independently in a difficult
  environment
• Emphasis in training on problem solving safety

10
Todays Observer Program

• What NMFS does
• Train observers
• Provide field support
• Ensure coverage requirements are met
• Set realistic sampling goals
• Monitor data quality
• Assist in developing fishery programs
• Deploy staff to resolve problems
• Work to improve safety
• Maintain constituent partnerships

11
Todays Observer Program

• Partnerships
• The Fishing Industry
• NPFMC
• Observer Contractors
• Observers and Observer Organizations
• UAA Observer Training Center
• Other NMFS Offices
• State and some Federal Agencies (USCG, USFWS)

12
Todays Observer Program

• Advanced Information Systems
• Comprehensive electronic system
• Improved data quality and timeliness
• Data feedback to industry
• Linkage to other NMFS information systems

13
Todays Observer Program

• Recognized nationally and internationally
• Integral to the management and assessment of
  Alaska groundfish fisheries
• Fixed coverage levels have supported most science
  and management goals
• Data are available to agency managers and
  scientists, but limited to the public except in
  summary form.

14
Fishery Dependent Data (Observers, etc.) Catch
Effort Size Age Comp. Biological Data
Discard Geo-Referenced Data (At-Sea Processing)
Fishery Independent Data (Surveys,
etc.) Abundance Indices Recruitment Indices Size
Age Comp. Biological Data Time
Series Geo-Referenced Data
Stock Assessment
Quota Setting
Inseason Catch Reports from Observers
Catch Reports from Industry
Quota Management
15
The Program Future

• Management information needs will place
  increasing demands on the Observer Program
• Program will evolve to respond to priority
  demands
• Observer professionalism will continue to be
  critical
• Stakeholder participation and partnerships are
  essential and will continue
• Emphasis on
• Research to improve sampling and estimation
• Making best use of observer resources
• Technological innovation