Fisheries Observer Program FAQ

Q. What is the role of A.I.S., Inc.?

A. Observers are employees of A.I.S., Inc. We support, direct and assist observers as they arrange trips and collect data. A.I.S., Inc. holds the contract to manage the Observer Program for the NMFS Northeast Region. We hire observers, deploy them in ports, and assign them sea days and support their day to day activities. The data collected are submitted to NMFS for fisheries management and marine mammal/sea turtle protection purposes.

Q. Is this a full time or seasonal job?

A. This is a full-time position. Our employees work year round. Employees who average twelve sea days a month are eligible for benefits including health insurance, vacation, holidays, etc.

Q. What is considered a sea day?

A. A sea day is a day or part of a day, in which an observer is observing and collecting fishing data on board a fishing vessel. For example, if a boat sails at 2 PM Saturday and returns at 7 AM Monday, that would be considered a three-day trip.

Q. How are sea days assigned?

A. On a monthly basis, NMFS requires AIS, Inc. to accomplish sea days by port, gear, and fishery. AIS, Inc. breaks these numbers down by Area Coordinator (AC) based on their port responsibilities. In turn, the AC assigns sea days to observers in a port based on gear and fishery. It is then the observer’s responsibility to arrange trips with the fishermen in their ports under the supervision of their AC.

Q. How are land hours assigned?

A. Land hours are used to obtain sea days. Observers are paid land hours to arrange trips and to review their trip data before sending it in.

Q. Are there safety issues involved with observing?

A. Safety is always a concern when going to sea and the Observer Program puts a high priority on safety training and safety protocols. Observers receive two days of safety training. They are issued safety equipment, including a PFD, immersion suit, and personal EPIRB. Before each trip, Observers conduct a safety inspection on each vessel. If the vessel does not have a US Coast Guard Safety Decal they can not fish until they receive a decal. If the vessel does not pass the observer's safety inspection, the observer cancels the trip..

Q. How do fishermen react to observers?

A. The vast majority of fishermen cooperate with the observer program. However, occasionally you may find a fisherman reluctant to take observers. It is part of the observer’s skill-set to be able to convince/persuade captains that it is in their best interests to cooperate.

Q. Do observers enforce fisheries regulations?

A. No. Observers’ primary duty is to record scientific data. Observers are not taught fisheries regulations.

Q. What do we look for in observer candidates?

A. Beyond the minimum requirements, we look for candidates with some sea or fish experience. All observers will face rough seas at some time, and seasickness can be a problem for some. Fisheries experience indicates the candidate has an interest in pursuing a career in fisheries science or management.

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