Fisheries Observation Science Program Coverage Rates, 2002-22

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. This report summarizes coverage rates in those fisheries observed by FOS. Coverage rates are defined as the proportion of total targeted landings across all trips in the fleet, based on fish ticket data from the Pacific Fishery Information Network (PacFIN), that are associated with observed trips. The species considered to be targeted are defined based on the fishery and described in the header of each table. The total targeted landings by each fleet are reported even in years when FOS did not observe any trips.