Fisheries observers are scientists who go out on commercial fishing vessels to collect data on the types of fish caught, including bycatch and discards. These hardy souls help fisheries managers figure out what the total removal of fish is from the ocean, and that helps them accurately assess the health of the stock and set sustainable fishing quotas. However, this program isn’t well-understood. Some fishermen aren’t thrilled about hosting observers, and the difficulty of the job means turnover is quite high.
Working with the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, we produced two videos: one highlighting the Northeast fisheries observer program, and another testimonial-based video with current and former observers. Both aim to increase understanding and appreciation for the job, and hopefully help with recruitment and retention of observers!
