



The Northwest Fisheries Science Center Observer Program trains, certifies, and equips catch share observers; ensures data quality; stores, maintains, and analyzes data collected by observers.
The U.S. West Coast groundfish trawl fishery is managed under the Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program. The program divides the fishery's total allowable catch into shares controlled by individual fishermen. These shares, which represent the number of pounds available to catch, can be caught at any time throughout the year.
The Pacific Fishery Management Council included two features of the catch share program – observer coverage and economic data collection. They did this to ensure the program's integrity by enhancing individual vessel accountability, enhancing data quality, and providing annual surveys of economic and conservation benefits.
All vessels participating in the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program are required to carry a National Marine Fisheries Service-certified observer during all fishing trips. An observer is an independent field biologist who monitors commercial fishing activities by collecting and recording at-sea catch data. The Northwest Fisheries Science Center Observer Program:
Catch Share observers collect the following information:
The Trawl Catch Share Program requires one-hundred percent at-sea observer coverage, in order to account for all catch of IFQ species/species groups. We use observer data to account for all IFQ discards, including the mandatory discarding of Pacific halibut. Observer data, combined with landings data, enables fishermen to track their individual quotas and for managers to monitor the fishery's progress.
Observer training operations highlight the differences between the catch share and non-catch share sectors. We train catch share observers to follow the regulations governing the tracking of quotas and the retention of fish.
Catch Share observers are deployed on:
Non-Catch Share observers are deployed in the following fisheries/sectors:
*All vessels participating in the Shorebased IFQ Program that do not use electronic monitoring must carry a NMFS-certified observer on each trip until all fish from that trip have been offloaded. All vessels greater than 125 feet participating in the MS Co-op Program or C/P Co-op Program must carry two NMFS-certified observers.
West Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program
Compliance Guide for West Coast Groundfish
Jon McVeigh, Observer Program ManagerÂ