West Coast Groundfish Observer Program Manual, Part2 - NOAA

CHAPTER 5
skipper gave you for EACH skate/tub and the
count for the haul, interview the skipper further
about why this discrepancy took place.
Refer to the WCGOP Field Manual for more information
regarding this method.
III. Collecting and Documenting
Catch Category Weight
On fixed gear vessels, Observers must sample both
retained and discarded catch. Since fish come up
individually (on line vessels) or in relatively small quantities
(on pot vessels), sampling on fixed gear vessels is relatively
easy compared to sampling on trawlers.
The Observer may or may not be able to monitor the entire
fixed gear set. When multiple unit line gear or strings of
pots are hauled there are two distinct sampling periods: the
tally and non-tally periods. Tally sampling on fixed gear
vessels is conducted as the gear is being retrieved. When
tallying on a line vessel, the Observer counts everything
that comes up on the line, including drop offs, during
randomly chosen gear segments or time periods. When
tallying on a pot vessel, the Observer counts all the
individuals that are in randomly selected pots.
Non-tally periods refer to the segments of gear or periods
of time when the Observer is not counting individuals and
gear is being retrieved. The non-tally period on line vessels
is used for weighing organisms, measuring retained and
discarded species, assessing injuries of Pacific halibut, and
performing other duties. On pot vessels, the Observer can
often weigh the fish from the sampled pot while the next
pot is brought aboard. During “off” pots, the Observer
can complete the biological sampling or other duties.
1/30/2004 5-35