Entry Requirements

To become an MPI fisheries observer you'll need: 

• good data collection and report writing skills
• to be reliable, independent, mature and adaptable
• to be able to work irregular hours under a range of conditions. 

Typical Day

Fishery observers work on commercial fishing vessels to collect information on the working conditions on the boat, the fishing catch and environmental interactions.

Observer duties vary, depending on the vessel, but generally include collecting:

• fish catch and catch effort data
• biological data (like fish sex, size and weight)
• samples from fish
• information on vessel compliance
• information about marine mammal and bird interactions
• unusual specimens for museums.

Training

If you become an MPI fisheries observer, you'll get paid formal training to help you do your job. You'll need to successfully complete an intensive 3-week training course which is normally held in Nelson. The course covers:

• sea safety and survival
• collection and reporting of data and observations required at sea
• species identification and sampling.

Who to contact? 

If you have questions about becoming an observer, email [email protected]