Welcome to the APO's Home Page
Our goal is to provide a comprehensive source of information for observers, and the public, on issues related to fishery observer programs.
Please contact us!
January 2012:
APO will begin holding monthly video conference meetings next month with current observers via Skype. Please see our schedule to find a meeting in your region. If you don't have Skype, you can download it for free. All you need is a webcam (if you want to see everyone) a computer and internet access.
December 2011: Request for NOAA Inspector General to investigate wrongful practices of Southeast Observer Programs
APO and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) wrote a letter to NOAA's Inspector General requesting an investigation into the practices of the Observer Programs managed by the Southeast Region of NMFS. The request for investigation is based on a statement by a Southeast Fisheries Observer in the Pelagic Observer Program, as well as comments made by other Observers anonymously. The allegations accuse NMFS of ignoring witnessed fisheries violations and failure to enforce laws that support the safety and welfare of Fisheries Observers. Please see PEER's Press Release.
October 2011: North Pacific
Please see the announcement for an Observer Representative to join the Observer Advisory Committee (OAC), a team that advises the North Pacific Fishery Management Council on North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program (NPGOP) issues. Also visit the Electronic Monitoring page for updates on the Council's push to replace Observers with EM in Alaska's small boat groundfish and halibut fleet, which have never been monitored.
September 2011: North Pacific
Draft regulations for the "restructured" NPGOP released:
Draft groundfish regulations for the "restructured" North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program, requiring observer coverage for the small boat groundfish and halibut fleet in Alaska have been released. There's likely to be some confusion as this program unfolds, as more than 1000 vessels will require monitoring for the first time, either with an observer or with electronic monitoring. Many details remain obscure but we look forward to the results.
August 2011: Upcoming meetings on Electronic Monitoring
Held in Seattle September 8-9 and 15-16 - national and regional (Alaska) efforts to implement Electronic Monitoring.
Click on Observer Data > Electronic Monitoring for details.
Observernet Shuts Down:
As of May 2011, Observernet.org is sadly no longer available for observers to network with each other. Dave Wagenheim put in countless hours toward maintaining the Observernet forums but because of low useage, he has decided to shut it down. Observers are often dispersed and use various forms of social networking to communicate with each other but rarely coalesce as a unified force. The APO Facebook page is one way to come together to discuss observer issues. While it doesn't replace all that Observernet offered, we can use this page as a means of communicating on contractor and labor issues, observer program policy and revisions, the efficacy and practicality of sampling protocols, impacts of fishing and fishery management practices, announcements, etc. Just do a search for the APO on Facebook and join in the discussions.
November 2010: North Pacific
NMFS Finalizes NPGOP Rule on Observer Conduct and other Rules
See how this rule may impact NPGOP Observers.
November 2010: East Coast
NOAA's Catch Share Policy allows transfer of catch shares to more harmful fishing practices
January 2010: Northeast
Catch Share policy lowers observer program standards
The Northeast monitoring program, under Amendment 16 of the Northeast Groundfish Fishery, called the "Northeast Fisheries At-Sea Monitoring Program" (NEFAMP), lowers hiring standards, reduces training of the "monitors", employs basic duties with minimal objectives that will not adequately monitor bycatch. Creating a new monitoring program with lower standards than the established Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP), is duplicative and complicates oversight of data quality. This is fiscally irresponsible and less efficient than augmenting the current observer program in the Northeast. The lowering of observer program standards is contrary to regional, national, and international policy and best practices.
NEFAMP MONITORS vs. NEFOP OBSERVERS
APO Public Statement Regarding Ammendment 16 - 01/14/10
APO Letter to NOAA regarding Amendment 16
December 2009: U.S. National
Public Access to Observer Data
NMFS partially responded this month (October 2010) to two FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) requests by the APO regarding public access to observer data. Please see the Public Access page for updates and indexes of released documents.
Donate to the APO!
Until the APO has finished restructuring, there are no more membership dues. In order to continue and move forward, we are relying upon donations.How are APO dues and donations utilized?
The majority of APO's activities are performed by volunteers; however, there are a few activities which require income:- Mail and photocopy services;
- Website hosting and maintenance;
- Travel to conferences, council meetings, etc.;
- Purchasing promotional materials;
- Tax preparation.
Current Board Members