California HMS Purse Seine Fishery
Program Coordinator: Lyle Enriquez
NMFS, Southwest Region
501 West Ocean Bvld.
Suite 4200
Long Beach, CA 90802-4213
(562) 980-4024
Observer Program Mandate and Authority
Mission of the program
To document the incidental take of marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds, target and non-target fish species.
Fishery management
Federal
Authority to place observers
Marine Mammal Protection Act, Category II Fishery. West Coast Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan.
Voluntary or mandatory
Mandatory
Funding source
Federal
Annual program costs
Program duration
Since July 2004
Fishery Description
Target species
Yellowfin Tuna, Skipjack Tuna
Other commercially landed species
Dolphinfish, Skipjack Tuna, Yellowtail
Bycatch
Common mola, blue shark
Incidental takes
None
Gear type
Purse seine
Area of operation
Mostly coastal from central California to Mexico
Fleet size
6 vessels
Size range of vessels
50-70 feet
Annual catch of target species
Number of fishing days per year
Season of operation
Summer
Observer Program Management
Brief overview of program structure
The Southwest Region - Long Beach Office is responsible for monitoring the California/Oregon drift gillnet fishery, California coastal pelagic purse seine fishery, the California HMS purse seine fishery, the California pelagic longline fishery, and the Pacific albacore fishery. Observer training is conducted in conjunction with Southwest Fisheries Science Center - La Jolla Laboratory, NOAA Fisheries enforcement, U.S. Coast Guard, and the fishing industry. The Southwest Fisheries Science Center receives the observer data to calculate estimates of incidental take rates of marine mammals in preparation of the Annual Stock Assessment Reports the regional management team uses observer data to help manage the pacific coast fisheries.
Service delivery type and function of each entity: NOAA Fisheries is responsible for observer training, debriefing, data entry, and data management. A NOAA Fisheries approved contractor is responsible for observer recruitment, monitoring vessel activity, observer deployment, logistics, insurance/benefits, and delivery of observer data to NOAA Fisheries. Vessel owners and operators are responsible for contacting the designated contractor to make arrangements for mandatory placement of NOAA Fisheries trained observers aboard their vessels.
Other participating agencies
Number of observers
10-12
Observers employed by
Average deployment length
6 days
Average observer retention rate
2.5 years
Observers unionized
No
Observer Coverage
Average number of fishing days
Unit and definition of fishing effort for purpose of estimating coverage
One set is equaled to one unit effort where is a set is defined as the deployment, encircling and hauling of a purse seine net.
Percent Observer Coverage
33%
