A classic by line we always had here in the pacific to suggest that is a good idea for longline vessels owners to increase observer coverage, is that observers are good luck on board, because observed trips consistently produced higher reported catches than non-observed, so when an observer is onboard, the vessel catches more fish!
Off to be very observant
This recent paper by Hunter T Snyder and James T Erbaugh on discards in artic fisheries seems to confirm the universality of that concept!
The last paragraph of their discussion (read the original!) puts it quite clearly:
In Greenland, in a region with world-class fisheries enforcement, the underreporting of discards is extensive. Our findings that underreporting exists—be it intentional or accidental—underscores the need for fisheries managers and enforcement entities worldwide to understand the extent and the origins of underreporting. Improved understanding of how discards are produced is an important next step for minimizing discards and conserving marine resources. While command-and-control enforcement with fishery observers significantly alters catch reporting behavior, it is time to develop more inclusive, transparent, and collaborative approaches to deal with fishing fleets' waste of living marine resources.
This paper makes me reflect on something that has been lingering on the back of my head during these times of limited observer coverage due to COVID… while we can potentially assess statistically the estimated level of underreporting that does take place during these times (in comparison to other years)… I hope the level of uncertainty being caused does get reflected in the management measures being decided at the present.
Even if the whole set up seems to (falsely) assume that observers do not range along the spectrum of humans that go from the really moral ones at one end to the bluntly dishonest at the other...
As an ex observer and a professional that has more than 30 years of interaction with observers, I’ve seen and experienced the best and the worst of the professional and personal attributes they have... yet is statistically indisputable that their presence on board increases compliance and in this paper proves it for reporting accuracy as well!
A schematic illustration of how skippers fish and report catches.