Attachment_4-NOAA_Fisheries_Observer_Eligibility_Requirements.pdf

Attachment 4

EA133F-17-RP-1824

SECTION J

ATTACHMENTS

NOAA FISHERIES OBSERVER ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

NOAA Fisheries Eligibility Standards:

Introduction/Background The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) observer programs deploy observers to collect data required for fishery conservation and management. As observer data are a critical and essential tool used in key management decisions, observers must meet minimum standards to help ensure professionalism, prevent conflict of interests and promote agency credibility.

National Minimum Eligibility Standards for Marine Fisheries Observers

Education/Experience Unless the Regional Administrator or Science Director has waived this requirement, observer candidates must have: 1) a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with a major in one of the natural sciences and a minimum of 30 semester hours or equivalent in the biological sciences, 2) at least one undergraduate course in math or statistics; and 3) experience with data entry on computers. All relevant course work must been performed at a level acceptable for credit at the candidate’s academic institution.

Regional Administrators and Science Directors may waive the education and experience requirements of this section if an observer candidate has acquired the required skills to be considered eligible for observer training through an authorized alternative training program. The alternate training program must include activities and functions including, but not limited to:

a) participating in ocean fishing activities;

b) observing ocean fishing activities;

c) participating in fisheries research cruises;

d) recording data on marine mammal sightings and fishing activities;

e) tallying incidental take of marine mammals, sea turtles, and sea birds from fishing platforms;

f) collecting biological samples and specimens from postmortem animals;

g) entering data into a database using computers; or completion of a biological training program, equivalent to that received as part of a bachelor’s degree, conducted by or approved by NMFS with the specific objective of preparing potential candidates for observer training.