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Managing and Protecting America’s Marine Resources
At the Galveston Laboratory of NOAA's Southeast Fisheries
Science Center, two offshore observer programs are helping to manage
and protect the nation's marine resources. One program monitors and
assesses catch of target and non-target organisms in the Gulf of Mexico
shrimp trawl fishery. Through this program, new bycatch reduction devices
are developed and evaluated. There have been several hundred trips to
date and the program has over 20 full-time observers. Trips last from
two to 60 days.
The second program examines offshore oil/gas platform removal activities
to prevent harm to the area's sea turtles and marine mammals. Between
100 and 200 platforms are removed each year and the program has about
10 intermittent observers.
Photos by Becky Benoit, Dennis Koi, Philip Smith, and
Todd Kihle
Gulf of Mexico Shrimp Trawl Fishery Observer Program assistant coordinators
(from left) Guy Myers and Charlie Jacobson and coordinators Philip Smith
and Mike Harrelson prepare observers for field deployment during training
sessions.
Observers Josh Sheldon (left) and Ben Rhame are trained to use a
survival suit.
Preparing for a trip (from left), observer Ben Rhame and coordinators
Mike Harrelson and Philip Smith pack data collection gear on offshore
shrimp vessels.
Turtle Excluder Devices and Bycatch Reduction Devices are required
gear in shrimp nets used in the Gulf of Mexico.
Once the catch is dumped on deck, fishery biologist Ben Higgins sorts,
identifies and weighs specimens.
Original data is systematically filed by project and date and archived
by Becky Benoit (left) and Estella Garcia.
Offshore Oil/Gas Platform Removal Observer Program "personnel
baskets” are used to transfer observers from platforms and barges to
work boats.
High power explosives are used to sever platform legs 15 feet below
sea floor.
After the legs are cut, the upper deck of the platform is lifted
and welded onto a materials barge.
Fishery biologist Gregg Gitschlag sorts, identifies and measures
fish affected by the blast.
Former observer Cheri O’Brien holds a juvenile green sea turtle captured
at an offshore oil platform prior to removal.
Observers Eugene Martinez (left) and Tracy Coburn complete trip reports
after returning to the lab.
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