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## National Marine Fisheries Service

## Fisheries Observers Program

**NOAA Fisheries requests an increase of \$9.5M, for a total of \$22.5M,
to modernize and expand fisheries observer programs.**

  -------------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------------
                                   **FY03 (in   **FY04 (in   **FY05 Request
                                   \$K)**       \$K)**       (in \$K)**

  Observers- Fishery Observers     750          0            9,500

  Observers/Training -- Atlantic   3,350        3,293        3,350
  Coast Observers                                            

  Observers/Training- East Coast   350          0            350
  Observers                                                  

  Observers/Training- Hawaii       3,000        3,805        3,000
  Longline Observer                                          

  Observers/Training- North        1,875        1,842        1,875
  Pacific Marine Resources                                   

  Observers/Training- North        800          791          650
  Pacific Observer Program                                   

  Observers/Training- West Coast   3,730        4,874        3,730
  Observers                                                  

  Observers/Training- NE           0            9,351        0
  Groundfish Observers                                       

  Observers/Training- South        0            791          0
  Atlantic/Gulf Shrimp                                       

  **Total**                        **13,855**   **24,747**   **22,455**
  -------------------------------- ------------ ------------ --------------

Observers provide the most reliable source of high quality, objective,
fishery-dependent data on the non-landed portion of the catch. Observers
provide information on all aspects of fishing operations, including
total removal levels of catch and bycatch, biological samples and
weights and measurements for life history, temporal and spatial fishing
strategies, and data on fish loss and, in some cases, operating costs.
They assist in special research activities, such as tagging and tracking
of released animals. They also collect oceanographic and climate data
for an ecosystem approach to fisheries and protected species management.

It is NOAA Fisheries' goal to expand and modernize observer programs to
collect high quality, standardized fisheries, protected species, and
environmental data from commercial and recreational fishing vessels to
better assess impacts of fishing activities and regulations on living
marine resources and fishing communities.

#### FY 2005 Program Changes

An expansion of NOAA Fisheries observer programs is needed in 2005 to
meet the agency's immediate monitoring requirements, and to facilitate
and enhance compliance with existing laws, regulations, fishery
management plans, marine mammal Take Reduction Plans, Endangered Species
Act section 7 consultations, and Federal court orders.

Specifically, fisheries management would be improved with better and
more complete data on target catch, catch of overfished fish stocks,
discarded finfish, and incidental takes of protected species (marine
mammals, sea turtles, and sea birds). Requested increases will ensure
that standardized, non-biased data are collected, and sampling protocols
adhere to rigorous, peer-reviewed sampling designs. Requested increases
will also ensure that observers are safe, adequately trained, fairly
compensated, and protected against harassment and intimidation.

***The table below outlines observer-specific appropriated funds for
FY03 and FY04, and requested amounts for FY05.***

**For More Information:**

**Gary Reisner**

**301-713-2259**

**Current plan for allocation of FY05 observer-specific appropriated
funds, by fishery, in \$K:**

  ------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
  **Observers - Fishery Observers**                 **9,500**

  Alaska Marine Mammal Observer Program             393

  NE Groundfish Fisheries                           5,500

  S Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fisheries        937

  SE Shark Bottom Longline Fishery                  100

  West Coast Groundfish Fisheries                   1,270

  Western Pacific Pelagic Longline Fisheries        1,000

  California Pelagic Longline Fishery               150

  California Purse Seine Fisheries                  50

  National Coordination/Research/Technology         100
  Development                                       

  **Observers/Training - Atlantic Coast Observers** **3,350**

  NE and Mid Atlantic Scallop Dredge Fisheries      394

  NE and Mid Atlantic Small Mesh Trawl Fisheries    320

  NE and Mid Atlantic Large Mesh Trawl Fisheries    555

  S Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Fisheries    481

  Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fishery                 1,300

  SE Shark Driftnet Fishery                         300

  **Observers/Training - East Coast Observers**     **350**

  Atlantic Pelagic Longline Fishery                 350

  **Observers/Training - Hawaii Longline Observer** **3,000**

  Hawaii Pelagic Longline Fishery                   3,000

  **Observers/Training - North Pacific Marine       **1,875**
  Resource Observers**                              

  North Pacific Groundfish Fisheries                1,875

  **Observers/Training - North Pacific Observer     **650**
  Program**                                         

  University of Alaska Observer Training Center     650
  (including AK state fisheries)                    

  **Observers/Training - West Coast Observers**     **3,730**

  West Coast Groundfish Trawl, Longline, and Open   3,730
  Access Fisheries                                  

  **TOTAL**                                         **22,455**
  ------------------------------------------------- ---------------------