• Observers arrange their trips on the fishing vessels with assistance from Area Coordinators.
• Observers collect vessel and trip information such as port, vessel size, number of crew, gear, and expenses (food, fuel, ice).
• On a periodic basis, observers ask captains about their expenses over the last year.
• Observers will ask the captain the types, sizes and number of gear he has onboard. In addition, the observer will take measurements of certain gear parts.
• Observers primary duty is to collect data on pounds of fish caught and discarded by haul.
• Depending on requirements, observers will take length measurements and age structures (scales, otoliths, and vertebrae) on certain species of fish.
• Observers record the sighting and location of any whale, dolphin, seal or marine turtle.
• If an incidental take of a marine mammal or sea turtle occurs, the observer will halt other sampling and record information about the animal. Minimum sampling requirements include identification, a photo, length/girth measurements, gender, and a DNA sample.
• Upon returning from a trip, the observer uploads basic trip information (date departed/returned, boat name, port, species sought, and any incidental takes) from their handheld computer to the NMFS observer database using a wireless internet connection.
• Observers notify their ACs upon their departure and return from a fishing trip.
• Observers send their data logs and samples to NMFS. They may be contacted by their Data Editor regarding how they recorded information and items that need improvement. The data is edited, entered, audited, and loaded into a computer database for analysis of fisheries populations, fishing economics, and incidental takes of marine mammals.

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