Report on the existing observer programs of NPFC Members and those of other RFMOs

Article 7 (Paragraph 2, b) of the Convention states that the Commission shall “develop and implement a North Pacific Ocean Fisheries Observer Program”. Following the recommendations from SC and TCC and the Commission decisions, this working paper summarizes information regarding the existing scientific observer programs (OP) of Members and OPs of other RFMOs to establish a basis for further discussions on developing a Regional Observer Program (ROP).

Currently, NPFC Members have relatively well-developed observer programs for bottom fisheries as required by CMMs 2024-05 and 2024-06. Each fishing vessel carries an observer onboard (North West Pacific) or is equipped with an electronic monitoring system (North East Pacific). Training, recruitment, deployment and supervision of observers as well as data collected are entirely managed by Members. Although, data is not reported to the Secretariat except summary information, Members share data, when needed, for analyses on bottom fish and vulnerable marine ecosystems (VME).

For pelagic fisheries, there is no coordination in the Members’ observer programs (OP) or sampling schemes (SS) neither in terms of the type of OP/SS nor in coverage and data requirements. Most Members have a combination of different means for data collection such as by observers at sea (Russia), by fishers at sea (China), by electronic reporting system at sea (Korea, Russia, Chinese Taipei, Vanuatu) and/or by observers/scientists in ports. Japan carries out only in-port scientific observations. Specifications for observer training, OP/SS design, number of observers and required data differ among Members. Recently, the European Union proposed to standardize data reporting and drafted biological data provision templates for review by the SC’s subsidiary groups. However, this work is underway, and it likely requires more coordination by a dedicated small working group.

All other “general” RFMOs (CCAMLR, NAFO, NEAFC, SEAFO, SIOFA, SPRFMO) have developed at least one observer program. Most observer programs of RFMOs have been set up primarily to collect scientific data, but some of them may have compliance tasks. NAFO’s OP is aimed entirely at compliance. Almost all RFMOs for highly migratory species have observer programs with both science and compliance components, but with different balances. The expenses related to observer training, recruitment, deployment and supervision are usually borne by Members, and basically all OPs are managed by Members, but several have a Secretariat oversight/data coordination role. Most RFMOs provide all observer data to the Secretariat which then handles those data in accordance with the established data management and security regulations. Regional scientific observers are an important and often a key source of fishery data used by RFMO scientists for stock assessment and VME management.

As described in FAO Guidelines for Developing an at-Sea Fishery Observer Programme certain activities can be achieved by at-sea observers only; other tasks are best and most completely achieved by observers; and some are achieved equally well by other monitoring systems or methods. Observer tasks and abilities unique to at-sea observers are summarized in this working paper to assist SC in considering actions to fill data gaps to access status of target stocks and species belonging to same ecosystem or dependent/associated with target stocks.