Saltwater Inc.
Alaska, USA
North Pacific observers collect biological data while living aboard commercial fishing vessels working in the North Pacific Ocean and eastern Bering Sea. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) uses this information for in-season fishery management and to establish sustainable fishing quotas for future fishing seasons. The North Pacific is a highly productive ecosystem which is home to enormous fish resources as well as a host of wildlife including many whale species, Steller sea lions, sea otters, seals and an amazing selection of seabirds. Observer data is critical to ensuring the sustainability of the valuable marine resources.
Observers work on boats that range in size from 60-foot longliners to 600-foot processing factories. Working conditions on fishing boats vary widely but all are almost always challenging in Alaska, where cold, wet weather is the norm. Biologists typically work out on an open deck, often for hours at a time, or for long periods of time in factories....
