The Observers must undergo a 26-day Program Training Course, inclusive of the 7-day training onboard M/V DA-BFAR, designed to satisfy both scientific and compliance information needed by the program (FOP Training Course). The observers must not be more than 50 years old, holder of bachelor’s degree in natural sciences (preferably BS Fisheries and Marine Biology), must be physically and mentally fit to work in any type of sea conditions, and have adequate computer skills.
The training is intended to instill knowledge and skills to collect and record biological and fishery information as required for fisheries management, to estimate and determine the composition of catches, and to collect and record biological sample for all commercial species. Observers are also equipped with safety of life at seas and licensed to operate the radios onboard.
The FOP Observers are certified by BFAR and subsequently authorized by the WCPFC ROP. They are also included in the “Philippine Cadre of Observers” and will be deployed in Philippine vessels to get scientific, compliance, and other fishery data whether they fish in the national waters, high seas or in the waters of other CCM.
