Opinion: Been a lot about the Observer Program out there lately. My question is, why are they needed?!!
When our boats come to unload their catch, NOAA people are there to report their landings, and if they caught too much haddock, cod or flounder, or other species that are not allowed, the owner could face a fine. Of course, Electronic monitoring is an alternative to that. This would show what they caught each and every tow, thus not needing an observer that many can’t afford, and second it should be a NOAA financial obligation, not placed on our fishermen. There are so few of them left. There is a lot to think about, but the bottom line is, it should be a financial obligation of the government to harvest the government required data. Thank You, Sam Parisi, Gloucester 19:15
Catch can be reported when they come to the Dock to sell catch. What is the cost to hire an Observer 24 hours a day on the Fishing Vessels. Not all Vessels have space for additional Person as observer! The Federal Government is to pay for additional Observers!
They’re not needed in any way shape or form. The observer program is yet another assault on the freedom and liberty of fisherman instituted by a former New England regional administrator of NOAA. We all know who he is.
And the most sickening thing about it is after instituting this horseshit he left his post with NOAA and started his own observer business in the most sickening and obvious case of cronie capitalism I’ve ever seen.