Comment from Jacob Harding

I work as a fisheries observer for NMFS, and have been on longline CP's targeting Pacific cod, working with another observer; and most recently I was working as a lone observer on another longline CP. Based on my experiences on longliners and from the reading, I think that having 2 observers on the vessel would be the best option for the industry and NMFS. When I worked alone, I used a Random Sample Table and a Random Break Table to determine which hauls I had off and when I could take breaks. Even with the random break table, I still had to work more than 12 hours in a 24 hour period and was seriously sleep deprived for the entire trip. As a result of this, I missed some on hauls due to illness, and made more errors because I'm not thinking at 100% when I'm very tired, and there was no one to double check my data at sea. If vessels carry two observers, they don't have to change their factory setup, I believe (although I don't know for 100% certain) that all the factory longliners already have observer sampling stations. If they carry 2, they won't have to worry about different requirements in the BSAI vs. the GOA, and they won't have to buy and install a flowscale and camera system. The other benefit of 2 observers is win/win for NMFS and the industry. Even if there is only one observer aboard, they still need to be lead level 2 certified. Contractors already value lead level 2 observers like gold, if there are 2 aboard; there's someone else in training. You cover all the hauls, dont need to worry about different regs in different areas, train replacements, don't have to buy expensive gear and install it. Even with a flow scale and camera system, it isn't going to be reviewed unless you already know there's a problem; having 2 observers aboard is the best way to ensure the data is sent in real time and that everything is being done legally.