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Observer Qualifications

The role of the observer is very demanding, and they are required to have a mixture of practical experience in fisheries and time at sea, in addition to a high level of diplomacy and vigilance. Qualifications required by MRAG come either in the form of a university degree (usually a Masters) in fisheries science, marine biology or a similar discipline with evidence of good field experience and time spent at sea, or a background in commercial fisheries or fisheries enforcement, with experience in biological data collection and analysis. Obviously MRAG prefers candidates who already have experience of working as fisheries observers.

All candidates are interviewed, at which time their level of maturity and capability of dealing with sensitive and confidential issues are assessed. The balance between the monitoring and surveillance roles is particularly delicate, as detailed in the previous section.

MRAG has developed a considerable track record in deploying observers as part of recent and existing fisheries management contracts, focussing on commercial fisheries throughout the world, particularly in remote regions. As a result MRAG recognizes the key skills, qualifications and personal characteristics required of an observer. MRAG maintains an active pool of some 50 highly qualified and experienced international fisheries observers.

Specific requirements of observers include:

• Qualifications in fisheries, for example as fisheries officers, marine biologists or commercial fishermen
• Previous experience as fishery observers or in fisheries science
• Sea going experience
• A basic sea survival certificate
• A certified merchant shipping medical certificate
• Appropriate language skills
• Completion of the full observer training course
• A high degree of diplomacy and responsibility
• Willingness and capability to go offshore at short notice
• A sound mental and physical state

Given MRAG’s extensive experience in designing and implementing observer programs, it is well placed to undertake observer operations in new and diverse fisheries. When undertaking such a program, experience shows that it is always prudent to engage staff with local experience, of which there is a considerable resource in the United States. When undertaking operations in US fisheries, MRAG would therefore seek to engage the services of US observers with appropriate expertise to the greatest extent possible.