Summary

Description

1. The purpose of this project is to collect, report, and analyze catch and biological information from the commercial west coast trawl catch share fishery. This fishery requires 100% observer coverage. 2. The project is a collaboration between NOAA Fisheries and Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). 3. We place observers on commercial fishing vessels that participate in the catch share fishery to collect data on catch and to collect biological data. After collection, data will be quality controlled and then used to produce reports on fishery specific catch of species and mortality of groundfish species. 4. There are many products of this project, including yearly reporting of fishery catch, GIS maps of effort and catch, mortality of groundfish, bycatch of halibut and protected species, and to write manuscripts. 5. The primary management audience is the Pacific Fisheries Management Council (PFMC). However, this data is highly sought after by researchers. 6. On-going project. 7. Stand-alone project. 8. We have many deadlines throughout the year from management, scientific, regional, industry, and other users of observer data and observer data analyzes. Observer raw data is matched to fish tickets to produce haul specific catch totals.