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Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis

photo of trawl net being measured The Fisheries Monitoring and Analysis Division (FMA) monitors groundfish fishing activities in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Alaska and conducts research associated with sampling commercial fishery catches, estimation of catch and bycatch mortality, and analysis of fishery-dependent data. The Division is responsible for training, briefing, debriefing and oversight of observers who collect catch data onboard fishing vessels and at onshore processing plants and for quality control/quality assurance of the data provided by these observers. Division staff process data and make it available to the Sustainable Fisheries Division of the Alaska Regional Office for quota monitoring and to scientists in other AFSC divisions for stock assessment, ecosystem investigations, and an array of research investigations.

The Field Operations Program is based in Anchorage with staff also located at the major fishing ports of Dutch Harbor and Kodiak. Staff are engaged in developing improved sampling methods, assisting industry in accommodating observer sampling, and assisting observers deployed in the field.

The Information and Monitoring Technologies Program is responsible for maintenance and development of the Division's information systems, ensuring that these systems are functioning effectively in support of at-sea data collection, data management and processing, delivery of timely data to industry and agency clients, and evaluating, developing, and implementing innovative technologies for monitoring fishing operations and observing catch.

photo of observers in a training lab The Observer Services Program develops training materials, trains, briefs and debriefs observers, and advises them while they are deployed. Training includes extensive instruction in safety and emergency procedures.

The Operations and Administration Program provides Division wide administrative services, responds to data requests from a range of users, works closely with observer contracting companies to address logistics and operational issues, and provides assistance to the Alaska Region and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in management program development, implementation, and evaluation.

Seminar Series

Each year approximately 300 trained observers collect information onboard Alaskan fishing operations. Starting September 11, 2008 and continuing through until November 26, 2008, we will be hosting a seminar series providing presentations to highlight how that information is utilized.

These seminars will be presented at NOAA's:

Alaska Fisheries Science Center
7600 Sand Point Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115

Bldg 4, Room 1055 at 3 PM


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