What fisheries observers do
Fisheries observers join commercial fishing boat trips to collect data. They collect data on:
- what fish the fishers are catching
- how many fish they're catching
- information on marine mammal and seabirds (by-catch and sightings)
- biological information to help with assessing fish stocks
- unusual specimens for museums
- information about vessel safety and employment
- fish processing information.
Observers provide independent data on fishing catch and effort
The data that observers collect is independent. They compare it against data from the fishing boats. They keep a separate logbook recording catch and effort. This includes:
- catch information and amounts for all species caught
- details of fishing operations, like:
- start and finish times
- positions and places where fish were caught
- fishing and bottom depths
- devices and practices to protect protected species (like seabirds and marine mammals)
- catch data for each tow or set.
Data collected for other agencies
Observers collect information for Fisheries New Zealand as well as for:
If an observer is on your boat
You must take an observer on your boat if we ask you to. This is a requirement under the Fisheries Act 1996. You must provide them with:
- food
- accommodation
- access to the boat, records, fish, crew, and equipment
- full access to communication devices on the boat
- help to complete their duties.
Observers are not enforcement officers. However, they must record any potential offences that they observe.
Number of days that observers spend at sea
Each year, we work with the Department of Conservation to plan the total number of days that observers will be at sea for. This is called a "seadays plan". These plans always run from 1 July to 30 June of the next year.
2022–2023 observer seadays plan
Each year, Fisheries New Zealand and the Department of Conservation plan the number of observer days needed at sea for different fisheries and clients. The 'seadays plan' is for 1 July to 30 June each year.
The following tables show the current number of sea days planned for each fishery and the total delivered up to 30 January 2023.
Inshore fisheries
Fishery | Stock management and environment (Fisheries NZ) | Conservation (DOC) | Total planned | Total achieved |
---|---|---|---|---|
West Coast North Island trawl |
91 |
91 |
182 |
72 |
Snapper 1 (SNA1) trawl – Standard/PSH |
108 |
108 |
216 |
92 |
TAR 2 trawl |
103.5 |
103.5 |
207 |
18 |
South Coast South Island set net |
133 |
133 |
266 |
18 |
East Coast South Island set net - Kaikoura |
91 |
91 |
182 |
0 |
East Coast South Island set net - Otago |
141.5 |
141.5 |
283 |
66 |
East Coast South Island trawl - TMP |
149 |
149 |
298 |
51 |
East Coast South Island trawl - TAR |
63.5 |
63.5 |
127 |
43 |
South Coast South Island trawl |
59 |
59 |
118 |
36 |
Bottom long line - (SNA1) |
151 |
151 |
302 |
33 |
Bluenose/hapuku & bass 1 (BNS/HPB1) bottom long-line |
19.5 |
19.5 |
39 |
4 |
Middle-depth (MD) fisheries
Fishery | Stock management and environment (Fisheries NZ) | Conservation (DOC) | Total planned | Total achieved |
---|---|---|---|---|
Southern blue whiting |
200 |
50 |
250 |
333 |
Squid |
1476.8 |
369.2 |
1846 |
238 |
West Coast North Island |
255 |
45 |
300 |
314 |
West Coast South Island |
340 |
60 |
400 |
455 |
Chatham Rise Middle Depth |
471.75 |
83.25 |
555 |
393 |
Sub-Antarctic Middle Depth |
276.25 |
48.75 |
325 |
387 |
Hoki Cook Strait |
170 |
30 |
200 |
103 |
WCSI Hoki-Inside the line |
89.25 |
15.75 |
105 |
101 |
Scampi 6A |
160 |
40 |
200 |
82 |
Scampi Other |
240 |
60 |
300 |
194 |
LIN BLL >34m |
157.25 |
27.75 |
185 |
94 |
<34m Mixed BLL |
378.25 |
66.75 |
445 |
46 |
Deepwater (DW) fisheries
Fishery | Stock management and environment (Fisheries NZ) | Conservation (DOC) | Total planned | Total achieved |
---|---|---|---|---|
North Island Deepwater |
99 |
11 |
110 |
13 |
Chatham Rise Deepwater |
261 |
29 |
290 |
261 |
Sub-Antarctic Deepwater |
90 |
10 |
100 |
54 |
West Coast Deepwater |
63 |
7 |
70 |
0 |
Highly migratory species
Fishery | Stock management and environment (Fisheries NZ) | Conservation (DOC) | Total planned | Total achieved |
---|---|---|---|---|
Domestic tuna surface long-line – North Island southern bluefin tuna |
127.5 |
22.5 |
150 |
0 |
Domestic tuna surface long-line – South Island southern bluefin tuna |
127.5 |
22.5 |
150 |
31 |
Domestic surface long-line – North Island bigeye tuna and swordfish |
102 |
18 |
120 |
0 |
Domestic surface long-line – South Island bigeye tuna and swordfish |
21.25 |
3.75 |
25 |
0 |
Domestic purse seine |
110.5 |
19.5 |
130 |
30 |
Other
Fishery1 | Compliance | Requested days/permit requirements (industry) | Total planned | Total achieved |
---|---|---|---|---|
Compliance |
100 |
100 |
0 |
|
High risk vessels |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
Medium risk vessels |
|
250 |
250 |
35 |
CCAMLR1 |
|
265 |
265 |
231 |
SPFRMO1 trawl |
|
150 |
150 |
0 |
SPRFMO1 bottom long-line |
|
50 |
50 |
0 |
SPRFMO1 Exploratory bottom long-line |
|
50 |
50 |
0 |
West Coast North Island trawl survey |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
WCPFC1 surface longline |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
Days provided on request (VSCF/OAD) |
|
300 |
300 |
204 |
1CCAMLR – Commission for the Conservation of the Antarctic Marine Living Resources, SPFRMO – South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation, WCPFC – Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Management Commission
Fishery | Stock management and environment (Fisheries NZ) | Conservation (DOC) | Total planned | Total achieved |
---|---|---|---|---|
Training |
255 |
45 |
300 |
65 |
Heath and safety assessment before leaving port
A commercial fishing boat must pass a health and safety assessment before it leaves port with an observer on it. This helps us to meet obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Fisheries New Zealand does the assessment.
We're making a risk assessment process
We're making a risk assessment process for boats that will have an observer on board. This will help to:
- work out how often your boat needs a health and safety assessment
- reduce disruption that the assessments might cause
- help everyone with meeting their health and safety obligations.
Find out what the assessment involves
We have assessment forms for both inshore and deepwater boats. Fishers should read these to make sure they understand what the assessments will involve.
We've updated these in response to COVID-19.
Deep water pre-placement health and safety assessment form [PDF, 137 KB]
Inshore pre-placement health and safety assessment form [PDF, 137 KB]
Previous seadays plans
2021-2022 observer seadays [PDF, 132 KB]
2020-2021 observer seadays [PDF, 135 KB]
2019-2020 observer seadays [PDF, 128 KB]
2018-2019 observer seadays [PDF, 45 KB]
2017-2018 observer seadays [PDF, 360 KB]
2016-2017 observer seadays [PDF, 358 KB]
Who to contact
If you have questions about fisheries observer services, email info@mpi.govt.nz