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Offshore fishing vessel distress kit. Credit: NE Observer Program, NEFSC / NOAA

Safety Requirements

Observer Harassment

HARASSMENT OF AN OBSERVER WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. Violators are subject to Civil and/or Criminal Penalties up to $130,000 and 6 months imprisonment under the Magnuson Act and $20,000 and 1 year imprisonment under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. It is unlawful to:

Intimidate, resist, oppose, impede, sexually harass, bribe, or interfere with an observer.
Interfere with or bias the sampling procedure employed by an observer.
Tamper with, destroy, or discard an observer's collected samples, equipment, records, photos, papers, or personal effects.
Prohibit or bar by command, impediment, threat, coercion, or by refusal of reasonable assistance, an observer from performing duties.
Harass an observer by conduct that has sexual connotations, or otherwise creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment.
Require, pressure, coerce, or threaten an observer to perform crew member duties.

Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Examination Requirement

As of May 1, 2006, all federally permitted fishing vessels and/or those participating in Category 1 or Category II fisheries under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) that require mandatory observer coverage will be required to successfully complete the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Examination and display a current safety decal.

Vessels that fail to satisfy the new safety requirement will be deemed unsafe for purposes of carrying an observer onboard and will be prohibited from fishing. If the vessel fishes without correcting the safety deficiency, NOAA Fisheries Service or the U.S. Coast Guard may take enforcement action.

Call today to schedule your free dockside safety examination

Portland ME (207) 780-3256
Boston MA (617) 223-3045
Providence RI & Cape Cod (508) 999-0072
Long Island Sound (CT, NY) (203) 468-4437
Baltimore MD (410) 576-2526
Hampton Roads VA(757) 668-5535
Philadelphia PA(215) 271-4852
Wilmington NC (910) 772-2231
Atlantic Beach NC (252) 247-4562

Observer Safety Program

Our safety training has been designed and reviewed with consultation from the Alaska Marine Safety Education (AMSEA) program. Our safety trainers have been certified through this program. AMSEA is a nonprofit corporation dedicated to developing and supporting a cold water safety information and training network. The network has expanded from its beginning in Alaska to instructors on all four US coastlines. They provide training for safety instructors as well as commercial fishermen.

Our observer and At-Sea Monitoring Training is provided by McMillan Offshore Survival Training (MOST). MOST is a safety and survival training company who also offers training for commercial fishermen.