The development of a suitable core curriculum coupled with a thorough training regime is fundamental to the success of any observer program. It is beyond the scope of this manual to develop a curriculum primarily because program conditions and requirements will vary widely from fishery to fishery. Sampling needs, species identification, regulatory provisions and management plans will differ from country to country. A curriculum should reflect the prevailing conditions and demand a level of expertise that is in keeping with indigenous resources and expertise. Having said this, there are nevertheless several guidelines that are useful when preparing a course of study. These will be discussed and reflected against the training program established in this region.
The training program is best organized into sections that will allow for a cumulative learning experience. The chronology of these sections should be such that they provide optimum coverage and reinforcement of the material in the shortest time frame. The course design should provide a cost effective combination of instructors, materials and field experiences along with a set of objective examinations. Criteria should be established in advance by which a formal assessment of each program graduate can be made.
The underlying assumption here is that the trainee who successfully completes the program of study and masters the material will be able and ready to perform the duties and responsibilities of fisheries observers.
Observer trainees can be recruited from a wide variety of backgrounds. For ease of training the best type of candidate may be someone who has a combination of significant commercial fishing experience and post-secondary education in a fisheries related technical capacity or the biological sciences. The type of person who fits these qualifications should possess an appreciation of the fishing industry, as well as the requisite intellectual capabilities and skills to collect, organize and present information pertinent to the activities of fishing vessels. However, the job of observer is unique in so far that it requires individuals who are willing to live in “foreign” environments, where communication is often a problem, for long periods while at the same time remaining motivated to perform rigorous work schedules without direct supervision. Experience has shown that pre-existing exposure to the subject area is not a necessary element for success provided the candidate is intellectually capable, emotionally stable and dedicated. The only caveat to this is that sea-going experience, or proof that motion sickness is not a problem, is important. Training observers, only to find out later that sea-sickness prevents them from working, can be expensive.
Subjective estimates of ability, commitment and compatibility are important when considering observer candidates and it is in the best interests of the program to acquire a mixture of people with divserse areas of expertise.
Important as well, the observer effort can be a forum from which to develop and promote meaningful field experience for qualified personnel who possess the potential for employment as fisheries officers and managers.
The preferred approach to new observer training embraces the integration of the scientific and surveillance requirements of the position. The primary learning objective is to teach trainees to produce a quality trip report and data package. Six major activities or areas of knowledge form the basis of most or all observer duties; they are:
| 1. Sampling Techniques | |
| 2. Regulations | |
| 3. Fishing Methods | |
| 4. Management Plans | |
| 5. Navigation | |
| 6. Historical Considerations |
Lesson plans should emphasize the logical relationship between the observer's biological and enforcement mandates. For example, the collection of gear technological data on card type 2 as a function of fishing effort is introduced before gear regulations. While gear regulations (i.e. mesh size, chafers) are being explained the collectionn of on card type 2 is again referenced, this time as data for the documentation of vessel compliance. Similarly, discarding/dumping is explained before sampling techniques, providing the trainee with an understanding of its nature and the surveillance implications. Now capable of recognizing this practice, the trainee will be able to employ sampling techniques to collect length and other biological data from fish that are removed in this manner.
A sample “Fisheries Observer Training Syllabus” and “Navigation Training Syllabus” are included in Appendix L. Not including study and preparation time, approximately 104 hours (figure 34), over a three week period, of classroom instruction and assessment are involved. For this type of intensive training, constant effort is required. The design of this format is not ideal; notably lacking is any integrated field experience. Unfortunately, financial constraints have limited the available time. To compensate, laboratory and classroom situations have been designed to afford the student correct techniques that are applicable to field sampling and data recording situations.
Simultation is achieved by using the same sampling equipment used at sea in the laboratory and by constant reinforcement of identifying and sampling from identical species as will be encountered once working. Students are expected to work independently and to show a high degree of motivation. The equivalent of field training experience is arranged once the course has been successfully completed and the observer is ready for probationary sea time; he will be accompanied for the first few days by either a program technician or a veteran observer who will provide all the required assistance.
DISTRIBUTION OF INSTRUCTOR TIME (IN HOURS) PER SESSION - FISHERIES OBSERVER TRAINING PROGRAM
|
Inst. Sections | Week 1 | Week 2 | Week 3 | Total | % of Inst Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Mandate | 4.5 | - | - | 4.5 | 4 |
| Perspectives on Mgmt. | 4.0 | 2.75 | - | 6.75 | 6.5 |
| Biodata Recording; Species I.D.; Catch Estimation ; Sampling | 4.0 | 12.0 | - | 16.0 | 15.5 |
| Domestic Regulations | 6.0 | - | - | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Foreign Regulations | 7.5 | - | - | 7.5 | 7.0 |
| Logbooks/Conversion | - | 4.75 | - | 4.75 | 4.5 |
| Factors | |||||
| Violations/Inspections | - | 5.25 | 1.5 | 6.75 | 6.5 |
| Fishing Gear | 2.75 | - | 1.5 | 4.25 | 4.0 |
| Navigation | - | 16.0 | 4.0 | 20.0 | 19.0 |
| Trip Report | - | - | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
| Communications | - | 2.75 | 3.5 | 6.25 | 6.0 |
| Safety | - | - | 1.75 | 1.75 | 2.0 |
| Writing Technique | - | - | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 |
| Assessment | 2.0 | 2.5 | 6.25 | 10.75 | 10.0 |
|
TOTAL | 30.75 | 46.0 | 27.5 | 104.25 | 100.0 |
fig. 34 Observer Training - Distribution of Instructors Time
The evaluation scheme must feature on-going and frequent evaluation with respect to study material paired with a separate comprehensive final examination Results of all tests and examinations will be considered in determining the final grade. Testing materials will parallel as much as possible the data gathering, recording, interpretation and reporting activities of the observer, and will consist of five basic designs (Appendix L):
| (1) | (1) a random assemblage of vessel, catch, effort, position and depth data which the trainee shall transcribe to the appropriate card types, | |
| (2) | examination of completed international fishing logs for errors and possible violation situations, | |
| (3) | by-catch calculations, referencing appropriate regulations or application of conversion factors to catch and production weights, | |
| (4) | recording of length, sex, weight and morphological data gathered from specimens to card types five and six, | |
| (5) | coding of sitreps using a random assemblage of data. |
Certification for successful completion of this program is contingent upon specified criteria. Trainees will be required to achieve a mean score of 80% for all examinations and passing grades in navigation and radio communications. As well, candidates must be found subjectively suitable to perform the responsibilities of the observer mandate by the consensus opinion of the instructor group. Finally, a period of probationary sea time must be successfully completed before the observer is certified and considered full-time.
All trainee observers are subject to a probationary period of 70 sea days. During this time their work will be scrutinized closely at debriefings and when possible, aboard their assigned vessel. Newly trained observers who neither respond to guidance nor demonstrate an acceptable level of performance in the course of their initial trips will be dismissed.
