Fisheries Observation Science Program Coverage Rates, 2002-23

The Fisheries Observation Science (FOS) Program at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) places trained scientists, known as observers, on U.S. West Coast fishing vessels to collect data on catch composition and amount, obtain biological samples, collect information on fishing operations, and record interactions with protected species, among other duties. Landings are calculated based on fish ticket data from the Pacific Fishery Information Network (PacFIN). This report summarizes coverage rates—defined as the proportion of targeted landings associated with observed trips to total targeted landings across all trips in the fleet— in those fisheries observed by FOS.