Hi.  My name is Paul and I'm a fisheries observer.  The job of an observer is to monitor biological catch through interaction with commercial fisheries.  I have worked in several observer programs in Alaska, and on the East and West coasts of the United States.  At present I work for FOA with the California/Oregon Drift Gillnet fishery.  This fishery targets Swordfish and Thresher Shark.  It uses a mile long net that hangs in the water and drifts with the current from dusk until dawn. Our job is to go on the small drift gillnet vessels (between 40 and 70 feet) and monitor the catch and interactions between the fishery and marine mammals.

Occasionally small marine animals, mostly small cetaceans and pinnipeds, become entangled and die.  When this happens we record data on the marine mammals  or other "air breathers" (i.e. birds, turtles) that have been caught in the net overnight, as well as, data on kept and discarded fish.  They are measured and then our job then is to get down in the dirty and collect blubber, skin and organ samples for NMFS scientists to study.

I personally have not had the bad fortune to deal with this situation at sea, and many observers have mixed feelings about it.  From a scientist's standpoint, it's interesting to see these animals in their element, out in the wild and not at an aquarium or zoo.  Despite increased restrictions resulting in fewer marine mammals being caught, the fishery encounters increased regulations and red tape. Living and working so close to people who are often just trying to feed their family, just like we are, one can't help but have compassion.  It is this conflict which requires us to be diplomatic and compassionate and yet firm in the fact that we have a job to do and we want to do it well.

For the last 6 years, FOA has provided observers for this program, run by NMFS and dictated by the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Previous gillnet observers have gone on to work in other levels of fishery research and management, graduate school and a few still work with FOA in other programs.  Observing is a fun and challenging job.  It is great for those who love to travel, meet interesting people and don't mind hard work and living out of a suitcase (or their entire car, in my case).  I recommend it to anyone.