MRAG Americas

Alaska Marine Mammal Program

MRAG began working with the Alaska Marine Mammal Observer Program in 2004. The National Marine Fisheries Services’ Protected Resources Division contracted MRAG to design and implement a program to monitor marine mammal interactions with the salmon set gillnet fisheries around Kodiak Island. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) mandates NMFS to measure the impact commercial fisheries may have on marine mammal populations.

Commercial fisheries are categorized based on their level of interaction with marine mammals. Category I fisheries have high potential for numerous interactions and require strict government enforcement; Category II fisheries (such as the Cook Inlet salmon gillnet fisheries) are required by the MMPA to carry observers if requested by NMFS and must report interactions by the method as directed by NMFS; and Category III fisheries have a very low rate of interaction with marine mammals.  Most Category III fisheries do not require fishers to report interactions to the NMFS.

The Kodiak Marine Mammal Observer Program operated during the 2005 season, completing the second year of the project. MRAG placed 12 observers at set gillnet sites on the West and South sides of Kodiak Island for a total of 635 coverage days. Interactions with marine mammals were limited and few marine mammal deaths due to fishing effort were reported. The fishers were very cooperative and supportive of the program.

NMFS plans to continue the program in other Category II fisheries throughout Alaska, the drift gillnet salmon fisheries in Southeast Alaska is targeted for a five-year program beginning in 2011. Prince William Sound and Bristol Bay set and drift gillnet fisheries are under future consideration.

Observer Duties

Observers are tasked with monitoring the interaction between fishing gear and marine mammals and birds. The salmon gillnet fishery operates seasonally with delayed openings based on escapement of salmon into spawning systems, as determined by the ADF&G Management Division. Thus the seasons are very variable and the work load is dictated by the strength of the salmon run. A typical drift vessel is between 20 to 40 ft in length and fishes using a 100 to 150 fathom net. The nets are set along tide rips, attached to the vessel on one end and a buoy on the other. They drift along with the vessel, trapping salmon as they swim past.

In contrast, set gillnets are located from the high tide line to one mile offshore. Nets are strung between fixed buoys perpendicular to the shore. Observers usually sit on shore or in skiffs and observe the soaking nets. Fishers pull the nets every few hours from skiffs, collecting the fish. Some of the set gillnet sites are remote, requiring floatplane flights or skiff rides to access.

Required Qualifications

The aim of this program is to have the observers be as unobtrusive as possible, so as to minimize any burden to the fishers, while collecting high quality data. Accordingly, only experienced observers will be hired. Previous experience in a NMFS or state-run observer program is required. This implies all observers will have a Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Wildlife Management, Ecology, Fisheries Science, or related field.

Duties and Wages

Observers participate in a ten-day training at the Observer Training Center (OTC) in Anchorage, AK, in May or early June each year. Observers are required to be first-aid and CPR certified and pass a swimming test. The majority of the work takes place on small skiffs and on 20-40’ drift gillnet vessels. Room, board, and transportation are provided for observers once they reach Anchorage. Rain gear, communication and safety equipment, and all sampling gear are also provided. Observers are responsible for camping gear and personal items. Observers are paid a salary of $170/day, seven days a week. Work follows the fishing seasons, typically beginning in early June and ending in mid-August to October.

For more information on required qualification and benefits please visit our Employment Page.