 |
|
Observer Program Mandate
and Authority
|
| Mission of
the Program |
To document the incidental take of marine
mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, target and non-target
fish species. |
| Fishery management |
Federal and State (California Department of Fish & Game). |
| Authority to place observers |
Marine Mammal Protection Act, Category II Fishery.
West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management
Plan.
|
| Voluntary or mandatory |
Mandatory |
| Funding Source |
Federal |
| Annual Program Costs |
|
| Program duration |
January 2005 to present. |
|
Fishery Description
|
| Target species |
Bigeye Tuna, Yellowfin Tuna |
| Other commercially landed
species |
Tunas (albacore, bluefin), dolphinfish, opah. |
| Bycatch |
Blue shark, thresher shark |
| Incidental takes |
Sea turtles: Olive Ridley |
| Gear Type |
Deep-set pelagic longline |
| Area of Operation |
|
| Fleet size |
One active vessel. |
| Size Range of Vessels |
|
| Annual catch of target
species |
|
| Number of fishing days
per year |
|
| Season of operation |
January - April |
|
Observer Program Management
|
| Brief
overview of program structure |
The Southwest Region - Long Beach Office is responsible
for monitoring the California/Oregon drift gillnet
fishery, California coastal pelagic purse seine fishery,
the California HMS purse seine fishery, the California
pelagic longline fishery, and the Pacific albacore
fishery. Observer training is conducted in conjunction
with Southwest Fisheries Science Center - La Jolla
Laboratory, NMFS enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard, and
the fishing industry. The Southwest Fisheries Science
Center receives the observer data to calculate estimates
of incidental take rates of marine mammals in preparation
of the Annual Stock Assessment Reports the regional
management team uses observer data to help manage the
pacific coast fisheries.
Service delivery type and function of each entity: NMFS
is responsible for observer training, debriefing, data
entry, and data management. A NMFS approved contractor
is responsible for observer recruitment, monitoring vessel
activity, observer deployment, logistics, insurance/benefits,
and delivery of observer data to NMFS. Vessel owners
and operators are responsible for contacting the designated
contractor to make arrangements for mandatory placement
of NMFS trained observers aboard their vessels. |
| Other participating agencies |
|
| Number of Observers |
1 |
| Observers Employed by |
Frank Orth and Associates |
| Average Deployment Length |
25 Days |
| Average Observer Retention
Rate |
2.5 years |
| Observers
Unionized |
No |
|
Observer Coverage
|
| Average number
of fishing days |
|
| Unit and definition of
fishing effort for purpose of estimating coverage |
1,000 hooks |
| Percent Observer Coverage |
100% |
|
|
