North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program (NPGOP) Overhaul
A project of the Observer Data APO Focus Area
Project Overview
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) is re-examining the possibility of restructuring the US North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program (NPGOP). The NPGOP issues APO is most concerned with that have remained unresolved since the NPGOP's inception in 1990 are:Conflicts of Interest: The delivery of this program lacks an "arms length" between the vessel/vessel's company and the contractor hiring the observer. The vessel's company pays the contractor for the observer. Even with 100% observer coverage, observers sometimes experience harassment, attempted bribery, or attempts by vessel personnel to alter the outcome of their monitoring efforts in the process of carrying out their duties. If there is a problem between the observer and the vessel, the mechanisms in place allow the vessel/company to have significantly more influence over the contractor than the observer. Exacerbating this is the lack of oversight that NMFS has over contractor performance and obligations to observers, especially with regard to safeguarding observers from contractor retaliation.
Data Bias: While great lengths are taken to reduce individual bias in observer data collection, sometimes with extraordinary expectations of observers, the program itself has had major data biases and gaps in observer coverage. Coverage is arbitrarily based on the size of vessel. Major portions of Alaska's groundfish fleet (vessels <60 feet, 18.3m), and 100% of the halibut fishery are not monitored. Vessels 60-125 feet (18.3 - 38.1m) require 30% coverage but vessels are allowed to choose when and where they receive coverage, inducing additional bias in observer placement. Also, some vessels have physically altered their vessels to be just under 60 feet to avoid carrying an observer. Huge data gaps exist because of the existing service delivery model.
Project Updates
No recent updates.Contact Information
Please do not hesitate to contact us with your questions or feedback, and if you have any interest in participating in the developments of this project.Liz Mitchell: emitch@efn.org
Mark Wormington: siberio@hotmail.com
Project Resources
- Magnuson-Stevens (MSFCM) Act
- MRAG Americas. 2000. Independent Review of the North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program
- US Department of Commerce Government Accountability Office Report: NMFS Observer Programs Should Improve Data Quality, Performance Monitoring and Outreach Efforts: GAO Final Audit Report No. IPE-15721/March 2004
- APO Letter to NMFS opposing the Northeast efforts to model their observer programs after the NPGOP Service Delivery Model
- Current Council restructuring document (Dec. 2008)
- North Pacific Fishery Management Council Observer Advisory Committee Reports