Tag Archives: nmfs-observer-program

Important From Alaska-NMFS Observer Program

Hi All: Attached you should find an urgent letter from 14 organizations asking for relief from the soon to be released NMFS observer program.  Our sense of urgency arises from the fact that NMFS is scheduled to publish a FINAL rule in early December and implement the observer program early in January 2013.  The plan as currently written is totally unacceptable and will do tremendous harm to small business, with no net benefit to the resource. We ask for your help to remedy this situation STAT! ATA represents hook and line salmon fishermen, many of whom also rely heavily on longline fisheries subject to this observer program. This historic pattern of diversification has played an essential role in the viability of small boat trollers and longliners in Southeast Alaska. Read More in Comment Section  https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.1&thid=13b17393f9b7be51&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D6627f04c18%26view%3Datt%26th%3D13b17393f9b7be51%26attid%3D0.1%26disp%3Dsafe%26zw&sig=AHIEtbT8Hx6vGIZxWSEoGmq9yEh2TdD_qw

The Ringer – A True Story of the National Marine Fisheries Service Observer Program

Origional post Sun Aug 21, 2011 by jj

The Ringer A True Story of the National Marine Fisheries Service Observer Program

The National Marine Fishery Service observer program sends many recent graduates of marine biology programs out on fishing vessels to collect data for fisheries science and to observe fishing activity and how it affects the environment and wildlife. In stories about fishing you often hear of the efforts of sea captains and their brave crews and never a word about the observer who accepts and takes many of the same risks as anyone who signs on as a crew member in the world’s most dangerous job.

Call her M. as anonymity is a requirement of this story. She came aboard like every other observer with a stack of baskets and fish measuring stuff for her work during the voyage. She was in her early twenties. In a baggy sweatshirt pulled over a slender frame with hair pulled back in a pony tail she looked like just another fresh faced college kid ready to do her part for the cause of fish science. At first she kept to herself but since we weren’t going to take any fish on board the Osprey at that time of year it isn’t a very demanding job for an observer. I think this whole story happened because she got bored.

My crewmate C.D. is a cribbage player with a long history of wins over fellow crew members and captains. We had been having a series of very competitive games and while there was no clear victor I would give him a slight advantage over me in both number of wins and quality of play. He is very proud of his game and ability to play and brags on himself a little at times,,,,,,,,,,,Read More

http://jjthefisherman.newsvine.com/_news/2011/08/21/7242327-the-ringer-a-true-story-of-the-national-marine-fisheries-service-observer-program