A radio communication system, that is able at all times to link the observer at sea with shore based program staff, is a vital component of the observer's role of compliance monitoring. Without two-way communications, whether voice transmission or telegraph, the feasability of the observer being a deterrent factor to illegal acts and supplying catch data that allows for management of current activity, would be impossible. The observer must have the option to summon the assistance of patrol vessels and/or fishery officers through radio communication. This is a very dynamic utilization of the observer resource, one that has proven its effectiveness on countless occassions within the Canadian zone. If it is desired that the observer do more than supply “historical” data at the completion of the trip, and if observer data is required for real-time management of the fisheries' conservation and protection plans, then a proper system of two-way radio communication is imperative.
A second very important benefit to the installation of such a system is that program staff are routinely in contact with the observer. The information that is received serves as a partial performance indicator. Keeping in touch this way offsets the isolation often felt by the observer, gives him the opportunity to discuss issues appropriate to the deployment, and provides acknowledgement that shore-based personnel are eager to receive the report.
An observer's catch estimates are the basis for his situation report or “sit-rep”. Unlike other reporting procedures the sit-rep is used as a current assessment of what is happening while the observer is on board a vessel. Within the sit-rep, the observer is able to inform operations staff of current details of his vessel's activities including: any breaches of regulations, where the vessel fished on each day of the sit-rep period, the main species sought for each day, the number of vessels in the area, the exact position of the vessel at the time of transmission, the total estimated catch for all species, a breakdown of the catch for major species by area, and estimates of discards for major species by area.
It is obvious by the nature of this information that the observer could not expect to stand on the bridge next to the captain and relay this verbatum. The master of a fishing vessel does not want the specifics of his fishing success broadcast over radiotelephone for other vessels to hear nor does he want the observer to inform the fisheries department that he has broken every rule in the book. For these reasons sit-reps must be sent in code.
The format and codes to be used in the sit-rep are presented to the observer at his briefing. These items may vary from time to time to ensure confidentiality. An observer must at all times ensure the confidentiality of the information as well as the coding procedures and ensure that the sit-rep is 100% correct. Even minor errors are unacceptable. Patrol vessels may be re-routed, foreign fishing representatives contacted or fisheries closed based on the information supplied. (Appendices H and I) contains a sample code list and instructions on communication procedures for observers).
The sit-rep is subdivided into six sections, A to F. This format is adhered to for both foreign and domestic deployments although secondary coding of the information is emphasized more on domestic vessels.
| A. observer identification number/code matrix number | ||
| B. violation status (codes supplied at briefing) | ||
| C. day of the month/area by NAFO division/activity/species/number of vessels in surrounding area. | ||
| D. position of vessel at time of transmission | ||
| E. | FOREIGN | 1) total estimated catch for sit-rep period (Monday to Sunday GMT, of all species, |
| 2) total of directed and by-catch species, by area, for sit-rep period | ||
| 3) round weight fishmeal by species, by area (do not include offal). | ||
| DOMESTIC | 1) total cumulative estimated catch for all species | |
| 2) total cumulative estimated catch of major species, by quota area | ||
| F. discards, by species and area. | ||
Foreign Silver Hake Fishery
| A. | 17/20 = observer identification number and matrix number | |
| B. | Yankee-Oscar 136 = O.K. or Romeo-Bravo 106 = priority inspection; by-catch, haddock 4VW or Gulf-Oscar 105 = inspection up to office; by-catch, general |
The phonetic alphabet violation status codes are supplied at the time of briefing and change for each trip. In this case Romeo-Bravo indicates a “priority inspection” is being requested by the observer. This is the most serious of the three status codes and warrants response by deploying a patrol vessel. The infraction in this case is “106” (refer to violation codes - Appendix H) which means that the 1% haddock by-catch limit has been exceeded (Section E reports haddock at 2.9% of total catch for the week). “Inspection up to office” indicates that while there is a problem, in this instance by-catch again, the observer has things under control and unless a patrol vessel is nearby to conduct the inspection, no special action would be taken.
| C. | 9/4X/1/0014/1 | |
| 10/4X/1/0014/1 | ||
| 11/4W/1/0014/1 | ||
| 12/4W/1/0014/1 | ||
| 13/4W/1/0014/1 | ||
| 14/4W/1/0014/1 | ||
| 15/4W/1/0014/1 | ||
Numbers in the left hand column refer to the days of the month and correspond to the Monday to Sunday catch and effort reporting period. The NAFO divisions where fishing occurred are next, followed by the activity code, listed here as l, i.e. fishing (for activity codes see Appendix H). The directed species is coded using the same species code used for the card types (0014=silver hake). The final column refers to the number of vessels fishing that were visible that day.
| D. | 4340–5935 - position of vessel at time of transmission (latitude and longitude) | |
| E. | T.C.106,000 | |
| 4X/001420100/00102000/00111500 | ||
| 4W/001460400/00101750/00231500/00111650 | ||
| RWFM 4X/0011400/00141000 | ||
| RWFM 4W/0014550 | ||
The total estimated catch for all species is 106,000 kg. In NAFO Division 4X total silver hake (0014) is 20,100 kg.; total cod (0010)2000 kg.; total haddock (0011) 1500 kg., etc. The round weight of whole fish processed into meal in NAFO Division 4X was 400 kg.of haddock (0011) and 1000 kg. of silver hake (0014).
| F. Discards - none reported |
For sit-reps on foreign vessels only the number portion of Section B receives secondary coding. Each observer is issued a distinct alpha-numeric matrix during the briefing which is used for that purpose.
Domestic Groundfish Vessel
| A. 18/101 | |
| B. Gulf-Oscar 140 = O.K. | |
| or Romeo-Oscar 102 = priority inspection; harassment | |
| or Alpha-Yankee 112 = inspection up to office; discarding |
The same basic rules apply here as in the previous example. On these vessels, because of the shorter trip duration and greater mobility between areas, it is usually difficult to respond to a request for a “priority inspection” with a boarding at sea. When this is the case arrangements are made for shore based fishery officers to meet the vessel at the point of landing.
| C. | 829 | |
| 929 | ||
| 1029 | ||
| 1130 | ||
From the eighth to the tenth day of the month the vessel was in area 4Vn (code 29 - see appendix H); on the eleventh it was in area 4Vs (area code 30).
| D. | 4506–5740 position of vessel at time of transmission. | |
| E. | T.C. 77,500 | |
| 29/001040200/001615300/00116300 | ||
| 30/001020000/00164400/00114500 | ||
The total estimated catch for all species was 77,500 kg. In area 4Vn (code 29), 40200 kg. of cod (0010) was caught; 15300 kg. of pollock (0016); and 6300 kg. of haddock (0011).
| F. | 0023850 |
Of the total catch, the observer estimated that 850 kg. of redfish (0023) was discarded.
Secondary coding using the alpha-numeric matrix is always applied to B and D. When catch data confidentiality is important the matrix is applied to section C, E, and F as well.
