When on duty, human observers can check the presence and use of all types of seabird-safe practices, including whether they meet recommended specifications.
Standards set by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) that prescribe information to be recorded by observers should be regularly reviewed.
Recommended minimum specifications
- Minimum of 20% of fishing events observed during the assessment period.
- Representative of all fishing activity.
- Observers monitor all seabird-safe practices used.
Equipment
Measuring tape, scales, camera.
Bird scaring lines
Recommended specifications
- Presence of an adjustable tori pole that holds the bird scaring line to the side of the vessel so steamers hang over the baited hooks.
- Height of the bird scaring line attachment point above the waterline.
- Length of the bird scaring line.
- Number of streamers, length of longest streamer, spacing, and streamer material.
- Presence of an in water drag section, including materials.
- Presence of spare bird scaring line materials on board.
What to record per set
- Was a bird scaring line used.
- Was the bird scaring line lost or tangled during a set and not immediately replaced.
- Were the streamers hanging over where baited hooks landed in the water.
Branchline weighting
Recommended specifications
- Type of weight (lead swivel, weighted hook, sliding weight, double weight).
- Mass of weight closest to hook.
- Distance between the hook and the weight.
- Proportion of branchlines with weights.
- Presence of spare weights on board.
What to record per set
- Number of hooks set with and without weights.
- Flybacks of hooks towards the vessel.
- Crew safety procedures in place (description).
Night setting
Recommended specifications
- Was the skipper familiar with the night setting, and how did they define night setting.
What to record per set
- Location at start of set (latitude and longitude).
- Time of start of set.
- Time of completion of set.
Hook shielding devices
Recommended specifications
- Name of manufacturer.
- Spare hook shielding devices onboard.
What to record per set
- Number of hooks set with and without hook-shielding devices.
- Number of hooks where hook-shielding devices were not correctly used. For example, not closed over the hook prior to setting.
- Number of lost or damaged hook-shielding devices seen during the haul.
More about hook shielding devices
Underwater bait setter
Recommended specifications
- Name of manufacturer.
- Maintenance record.
What to record per set
- Number of hooks set with and without the underwater bait setter.
- Setting depth of baited hooks.
More about underwater bait setters
Download a factsheet
Further information
To learn about the types of data to collect to assess the impact of fishing on seabirds see Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels - Bycatch monitoring.