Monitoring and Observing Systems
Global Observing and Monitoring Systems
Argo: a component of the Integrated Ocean Observing System
Fisheries Observer and Monitoring Programs
Observing in many countries began with monitoring foreign fishing vessels in the new EEZs during the 1970s and shifted to domestic coverage in the 1980s.
Most fisheries observer programs have developed independently in each global region to meet regional needs, but each has common issues. The issues include health, injury, liability insurance to protect observers and the vessels they observe, relationships between observers and crew, duties of observers on common crew tasks such as helping in the galley, standing watch, or on deck, and objectivity of collected data.
As an example of the importance of observer programs, the USA's National Marine Fisheries Service (part of NOAA) first put observers aboard multiple fishing vessels during the height of the dolphin/tuna affair in the 1970s, when hundreds of dolphins were being killed in each tuna set involving the herding of dolphins to catch the tuna swimming with them. Before there was a regulatory role, NMFS placed observers on tuna seiners to learn which species of dolphins and how many were involved and what was happening. In the days before laptops, observers filled out 22 page data forms for each set, detailing dolphin, tuna and crew actions, including the various ways crew worked to prevent mortalities, as well as information such as location, time lines, and oceanography, necessary for the analysts back at the lab to understand what was going on. Dozens of observers brought back data, diagrams, and ideas that formed the basis for a suite of gear and procedures. This protocol reduced dolphin mortalities by a factor of over 100, made fishing more efficient, and allowed the US industry to stay in business. Most observers now have a regulatory capacity, monitoring quota progress or compliance, but they also continue collecting information that allows improvements in stock assessments, bycatch reduction, and knowledge about the species themselves.
Observers are the eyes of the scientists as well as the regulators. Their data, combined with that from research vessels and from landings statistics, directly support both resource science and management.
Funding sources vary for each observer program. The fishing industry pays for observer coverage in some programs and countries while national funds, or perhaps a fisheries commission pays in others. In large countries, there may be many types of observer programs and many ways to pay for them.
International Fisheries Observer and Monitoring Conferences
The Conference mission is to improve fishery monitoring programs worldwide through sharing of practices and development of new methods of data collection and analysis. To provide a forum for dialog between those responsible for monitoring fisheries and those who rely upon the data they collect.
A link to the conference and the proceedings from prior sessions is here
- Improve the quality of fishery monitoring data through sharing of best practices for collection and analysis of information.
- Improve the use of fishery monitoring data to support sustainable resource management.
- Promote the international exchange of ideas and best practices from fishery monitoring programs throughout the world.
- Improve accessibility to fishery monitoring data.
- Support the development of new innovative data collection methods.
- Improve the training and safety of at-sea fisheries observers.
- Advance the development of the observer profession.
The Conferences benefit all interested in fisheries. Whether a fishing firm or its support base, a government or scientific body, or a concerned citizen, we all have a stake in improving observer programs while reducing costs. As an example, electronics and automated systems for monitoring will play a key role in these discussions.
The oceans community is invited to consider financial support to enable observers and program managers from around the world to share their ideas and experiences. Information about the Conference and about becoming a sponsor or advertiser is available at the conference website. Participation provides exposure on the web, at the conference and in over 40 countries.