Observing—Six Things I’ve Learned in a Year

As a commercial fisheries observer, I get to work hands-on with marine species and collect at-sea data vital to monitoring the health of our oceans. Here are some things I've learned in my first year observing.

How to Identify Sharks

Early on, I learned how to identify the sharks we see in the mid-Atlantic. Some were obvious: blue sharks are blue, spiny dogfish have spines and white spots, tiger sharks have stripes, and Atlantic common thresher sharks have a long "whip tail." Others were less obvious. Sand tiger sharks have jagged rows of massive, pointed teeth. Sandbar sharks are brownish with a tall dorsal fin. Porbeagles have a double keel at the base of their tail.

If I see a shark I don't recognize, I start with whether it has a ridgeback or not, which narrows the possibilities by half. From there, distinguishing characteristics include color, snout shape, and the position of the pectoral fin relative to the dorsal fin. When in doubt, I take lots of pictures and refer to our issued shark identification field guide. Now I know just because a shark has sharp teeth, doesn't mean it's a white shark.

How to Handle Sea Sickness

It's never easy being "green" at sea. When I used to look to the fishermen for sympathy or advice on my sea sickness, most said "I've never been sick." If, like me, you're not one of the lucky ones, there are ways to overcome mild cases. In training, we are advised to get enough sleep, stay hydrated, and take medication if needed. Once I got my "sea legs," my tolerance to rough seas increased and I learned to stay hopeful when seasickness occurs. My proven remedy is to drink plenty of water, eat plain crackers, and breathe fresh air until the sickness, or sea, calms. When all else fails, getting on deck to sample a haul gets my body moving and mind off the nausea.

It's Not Too Cold

Before being an observer, I had never worked a full-time job outdoors, much less through freezing winters. What I've discovered is most of the time, I work on deck for an hour or two, then warm up inside between hauls. With the right amount of layers and all-weather gear, it's possible to stay comfortable, even in snow. Plus, there's nothing like physical work to warm me up!

Bring the Right Kind of Entertainment

After several months on the job, I was trained to observe specialized gears including bottom longline. I had heard these trips were long and monotonous compared to other types of fishing. So before my first bottom longline trip, I downloaded tons of TV shows and movies. I didn't watch a single second. Turns out, I should have downloaded podcasts and music. While it's true these trips are monotonous, you spend the long 10 to 14 hours a day on deck observing the haul. This taught me to tailor my entertainment to the kind of trip I'll be going on.

Stay Fit Between Deployments

Observing requires consistent strength and agility. When working regularly, it's easier to stay in shape. However, downtime on land can occur. About a year ago, after doing several weeks of observer training in office, I returned to sea. I unfortunately injured my back from routine lifting. This injury resulted in recovery time from work and physical therapy. Now I make sure to stay fit during downtime to ensure I can safely do my best work at sea.

Knives Are Sharp

Fishermen keep their knives very sharp. Yes, even the kitchen ones. Dishwashers beware!

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