What Is A North Pacific Observer Brochure

Fisheries observers are biologists who work independently to collect a wide range of information onboard commercial fishing vessels and at shoreside processing plants receiving fish from Alaskan waters. Observer information is used by NOAA Fisheries and partner agencies to manage commercial fisheries in the North Pacific. Observers are deployed by permitted providers for up to three months at a time.

Training to become a certified observer consists of a comprehensive three-week program held in Seattle. The curriculum includes safety while at sea, sampling methodologies, species identification, and data documentation requirements. It also provides information regarding fisheries management, pertinent fishing regulations, and life as an observer. Attendance, full participation in exercises, and a passing score on exams are necessary to successfully complete the classroom portion. In addition, trainees must be able to don an immersion suit in less than one minute and enter the water and climb into a floating life raft while wearing the suit.

Additional Resources

Observers

• North Pacific Observer Duties
• North Pacific Observer Program Training & Briefing
• North Pacific Observer Program Training Schedule
• North Pacific Observer Program Permitted Providers
• North Pacific Observer Pre-Class Reading Material
• North Pacific Observer Sampling Manual
• What is a North Pacific Groundfish and Halibut Observer Brochure
• Spatial Data Collected by Groundfish Observers in Alaska
• Alaska Groundfish Fishery Observer Data Map
• North Pacific Observer Resources

Vessels/Processors

• North Pacific Electronic Monitoring
• North Pacific Observer Program Annual Deployment Plans
• North Pacific Observer Program Annual Reports
• North Pacific Observer Vessel / Plant Operator FAQ
• North Pacific Observer Vessel / Plant Operator Comment Form
• Observer Deploy and Declare System (ODDS) 
• Observer Fee Collection and Payment
• Observer Harassment Warning (PDF)
• North Pacific Observer Program Federal Register - Rules and Notices

• North Pacific Observer Program FMP Amendments - Rules and Notices

• Regulatory Analyses