Bering Sea Crab Observers

Greetings fishies!

Most commercial fisheries require a vessel, at one time or another, to carry an extra person known as an "Observer". The observer records and transmits information to the government regarding the different species fished, among other things. Every year the Alaska Department of Fish & Game announces the "selected" vessels and gives additional information in a news release.

Observers were aboard some of the boats during the filming of the Deadliest Catch, Season 2. Those boats were:

Vessels 75-125 feet

Maverick, King crab
Aleutian Ballad, Opilio crab

While the observers were obviously a presence aboard the boats, never once did we catch even a glimpse of them. This writer believes that is doing the viewer, the industry and the observers a disservice.

For the upcoming Season 3, the following boats will have Observers:

Vessels 75-125 feet:
Aleutian Ballad, King Crab
Maverick, Opilio crab

Over 125 feet:
Cornelia Marie, King crab and Opilio crab
Northwestern, Opilio crab

and these are on the alternates list:

Vessels 75-125 feet:
Rollo, King crab
Far West Leader, Opilio crab
Early Dawn, King crab, Opilio crab

Over 125 feet:
Northwestern, King crab
Wizard, King crab

From the Press Release:

"Catcher vessels have been selected for observer coverage in the Bristol Bay and Bering sea crab fisheries. Each selected catcher vessel will be required to carry a crab observer during 100% of the time that the vessel is participating in the fishery. In addition to the list of catcher vessels selected to carry an observer, there is an alternate list of vessels for Bristol Bay red king crab and Bering Sea snow crab. Alternate vessels may be required to carry an observer if there are changes to the list of selected catcher vessels......

ADF&G or a state-contracted observer company will provide observers for selected catcher vessels and costs will be covered using cost-recovery and grant funds. Processing vessels arrange and pay for their own observer coverage.

All vessels must have proof of compliance with the United States Coast Guard (USCG) vessel safety requirements. USCG Dockside examinations are available in Puget sound, Kodiak, and Dutch Harbor.

Observers will have their own rain gear, boots, gloves, survival suit, and personal flotation device (PFD) for working on deck, along with their own bedding and personal items. Some of the regulatory requirements for vessels that carry observers include:

• Provide adequate food and accommodations for the observer equal to those provided for the vessel's crew;

• Provide to the observer daily catch information, including areas fished, number of crab retained, pot locations, number of pots pulled, and other information specified by the department;

• Provide a safe work area, and necessary gear including 2 to 3 totes for the observer to use at all times to hold the contents of crab pots for sampling;

• Assure observer access to single side band (SSB) radio, fax, telex, or telephone."

For more indepth information and photos please visit:

http://www.saltwaterinc.com/ak_Crab/ak_crab.html

Do NOT miss the links to letters from observers at the bottom of the page:

http://www.saltwaterinc.com/ak_Crab/crab_letters.html

http://www.alaskanobservers.com/observer.html


Stay tuned!

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