NMFS has used some observers for the past 

 2 years, primarily on Japanese vessels, and has 

 termed the experience very successful as a tool 

 for collecting information. 



From the NMFS viewpoint, the observers 

 are ideal for gathering scientific and manage- 

 ment data. The observers could visually ex- 

 amine the rate of fish catch, effectiveness of 

 fishing gear, and types and sizes of fish 

 caught. This is information which will be vital 

 to NMFS and the Regional Councils for use in 

 the formulation of management plans for the 

 foreign fisheries. Yet, none of these jobs can be 

 adequately carried out by surveillance vessels 

 or any of the remote-sensing devices which 

 will be discussed later in this section. For these 

 reasons, much more extensive use should be 

 made of observers, in a dual role: 



1) to collect data needed for management 

 of the fisheries and 



2) to observe operations for enforcement 

 functions. 



Observers could be utilized by the Coast 

 Guard as part of its enforcement network. 

 Among other enforcement-related duties, the 

 observers could: 



• verify proper use of specific fishing gear; 



• check on bycatch or fish caught inciden- 

 tal to the species sought (In some fish- 

 eries more than half of a typical landing 

 is not used and is dumped overboard.); 



• communicate actual practices and fishing 

 information quickly to a control center; 

 and 



• note violations, notify the Coast Guard, 

 and even personally collect fines. 



t^atioml OctatiK and Atmoxphmc AdmmtslTatton Photo 



Observers on board fishing vessels may be in the best 

 position to inspect catch for illegally retained species 



40 



