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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.
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 2009 Observer Manual is now available.
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.
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