Observer Program Campaign Efforts
"How Many Eyes Do We Need on the Ocean?"
In November 2003, the Stop Dirty Fishing campaign released a landmark scientific study by three highly regarded fishery and wildlife specialists. The study is an innovative "how-to" guide on designing and running effective fishery observer programs - the best way to count and control dirty-fishing. Observers are government scientists assigned to commercial fishing boats whose job is to count the fish and sea life that is caught and thrown back to sea because it is unwanted or cannot be kept. The study provides methods for fishery managers to produce reliable and accurate results from programs in any fishery, while accounting for the bias created by changes in behavior by fishermen when observers are present. The study also recommends how much observer coverage is necessary to suitably estimate the catch and subsequent discard of fish, marine mammals, sea turtles, and other ocean wildlife. In November 2004, the study was highlighted on a panel at the International Observer Conference in Sydney, Australia, and it continues to receive widespread attention from fishery managers. READ>>
Increased Funding for Fishery Observers
Since 2003, Oceana has conducted an extensive annual advocacy effort to increase funding for fishery observer programs. In January 2004, thanks largely to Oceana's efforts, Congress doubled the funding available for fishery observer programs in the 2004 federal budget from approximately $14 million to more than $29 million. This included significant increases for Oceana's top regional priorities, the New England and West Coast groundfish fisheries. Since then, Oceana's efforts have successfully maintained these funding levels, despite significant cuts in many areas of the federal budget.
Related Documents
For documents and links related to Observer Programs, visit Resources & Reports.
