Marine Fisheries Observer And Data Collection
CurrentData collection services, for use by scientists and industry members for the management of commercial fisheries and marine environments.Contract work through NOAA Fisheries where I worked as a highly skilled biological technicians to gather primary data on the catch and bycatch from commercial fishing and processing vessels in the U.S. I was a government representative on the water, recording vital information about the fishing locations, equipment used, and any interactions with protected marine life, such as sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds. I collected this raw data while on board the vessel, out at sea, and transferred the data to a digital tablet and online database once back on land. I worked closely with debriefers at NOAA Fisheries, after every trip, to review the recorded data and explain any inconsistencies. The data is then carefully scrutinized for accuracy, entered into regional databases, and made accessible for use.I would spend 1 day to 2 weeks on different fishing vessels out at sea preforming scientific data collection simultaneously as the men were actively fishing. I worked closely with a different crew and vessel for every trip and had to be very flexible and resourceful with my time and resources while we were deployed.