Guidance

Observers: requirements for the role

Published 7 August 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fishing-vessels-observer-requirements/observers-requirements-for-the-role

These requirements apply to observers. Read the requirements for:

If you want to become an observer for a commercial fishing vessel, you will need to meet certain criteria.

As an observer, you will need to follow certain rules before and during a vessel’s trip.

Criteria for the role

Your tasks will depend on the relevant fisheries rules in the area of operation.

If you want to be an observer on a commercial vessel, you must:

  • be independent of the vessel’s operator, the licence holder, the master and any crew
  • have no economic link to the operator (for example, you should not be a current member of staff)
  • understand fisheries and fisheries rules within certain sea areas, through qualification or prior experience
  • have taken (or will take) appropriate seafarer training and certification
  • have (or will get) a seafarer medical certificate

It’s desired that you have:

  • previous seagoing experience
  • a degree in a relevant subject such as marine biology or environmental science
  • personal insurance

Your responsibilities

Your responsibilities may vary depending on the Regional Fisheries Management Organisation the vessel’s stocks are managed by. In the UK, you may be on a vessel with stocks managed by the following organisations:

Before your vessel leaves

Before the trip you should:

  • check that you have access to a two-way communication device independent from the vessel at sea
  • familiarise yourself with the specific rules of the fishery and specific observer reporting requirements
  • make yourself available for any briefing session that your fisheries administration or observer company may organise

Reporting on fishing activity

As an observer, you may either:

  • monitor whether a vessel’s fishing activities are complying with rules – for example, you may check if entries made in the logbook are consistent with your own estimation of catches, bycatch and discards
  • carry out scientific work, such as collecting samples of size or sex
  • perform a combination of both fisheries control and scientific tasks

You must report:

  • your own estimation of catches, rather than reproducing logbook data in your own observation records, and check the consistency of entries made in the logbook
  • on fishing activities, including gear configuration, vessel positions, catch composition or monitoring bycatch and discards (for example fish, mammals and seabirds) as detailed in an Observer Report Form, or similar document, specific to the sea area of operation
  • incident types and follow up actions – you must be able to provide reliable data for anyone who needs it

Do not share data with the owner, master or crew. All data and information you collect related to the fishing operations (including images and videos) is confidential.

At the end of each trip you:

  • must send your data and report to the relevant fisheries administration
  • may be debriefed by the relevant fisheries administration

You must remain independent and impartial in your duties regardless of nationality and of which flag the vessel is flying.

Staying safe at sea

The master must safeguard you during the trip. For example, they must give a certain standard of food and accommodation. Check the safeguarding requirements for masters.

You must make sure your  working patterns follow the rules in The Merchant Shipping (Hours of Work) Regulations 2002.

For example, you must take a minimum of:

  • 10 hours’ rest in any 24-hour period
  • 77 hours’ rest in any 7-day period

The rest can only be split into a maximum of 2 rest periods per day.

Handling emergencies and accidents

If you are involved in an accident, including injury, the master must report it. You can also report them to the Marine Accident Investigations Branch (MAIB) by calling +44 (0)23 8023 2527 and then completing the accident report form.

Make sure you leave the fishing vessel if there is a serious risk to you. You can return when the risk is addressed.

You can notify your fisheries administration and observer company if you have been assaulted, intimidated, threatened or harassed while on board a vessel. If the master or crew are aware of this, they must also notify the fisheries administration immediately.

Contact your fisheries administration

Contact your fisheries administration for any questions you have about your requirements.

Northern Ireland

Email the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) at DAERAOPS@daera-ni.gov.uk.

Scotland

Email the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government at UKFMC@gov.scot.

England

Email the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) at MMO.OPS@marinemanagement.org.uk.

Wales

Email the Welsh Government at wfmccmpc@gov.wales.

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