Provision of Observers for UK Flagged Vessels operating in IOTC waters

In order to meet the national requirements set out in IOTC Resolution 11/04 ..."on a Regional Observer Scheme (ROS)" where 5% coverage of sets must be observed, fisheries observers were deployed by MRAG for the UK flagged longline vessels operating in the Indian Ocean, Mar de Bens and Mar de Creta.  Observers are required to collect data following the guidelines set out by the ROS. 

Observers deployed in the IOTC RoS shall:

1. Record and report fishing activities, verify positions of the vessel;
2. Observe and estimate catches as far as possible with a view to identifying catch composition and monitoring discards, by-catches and size frequency;
3. Record the gear type, mesh size and attachments employed by the master;
4. Collect information to enable the cross-checking of entries made to the logbooks (species composition and quantities, live and processed weight and location, where available); and
5. Carry out such scientific work (for example, collecting samples), as requested by the IOTC Scientific Committee.

MRAG have trained and deployed observers on the vessels for 2017 and 2018. 

At the end of each trip, the observers are debriefed, and the data and report were submitted to the IOTC through the flag State responsible body in this case via Marine Scotland.

https://www.iotc.org/cmm/resolution-1104-regional-observer-scheme