| Information and/or data collected by observer, throughout the year, in accordance with the agreed observer annual plan and agreed client specifications |
Quality achieved, timeliness not achieved |
The 2004/05 Observer Service Delivery Plan details observer coverage by species. The observer coverage was required to obtain data as specified by clients. The observer coverage results for the year are: - Planned days 7,250
- Achieved days 5,625.
The total variance from plan for 2004/05 is a shortfall of 1,625 days.
Material negative variances in actual versus plan are: Ling Inshore (87 days)
Coverage was initially delayed pending the client finalising their data specification. Once the specification was finalised, the challenge was in establishing contacts and securing placement in a fishery relatively new to observer services. Tuna Charter (95 days)
Observer coverage achieved was 100% of fishing activity. However, fishing activity was less than expected, possibly due to the economic challenges of profitably operating in the fishery. Inshore Set Net (100 days)
These days were coverage planned for DoC. DoC cancelled this requirement in April 2005. Hoki VSCF (258 days)
Hoki VSCF (Vessel Specific Conversion Factors) are days requested, and paid for, by the industry directly. They are contracted when the industry wants an observer to certify a conversion factor (the yield of greenweight fish to processed fish) specific to a vessel.
The observer days contracted are determined solely by industry requirements. The shortfall of 258 days therefore reflects the industry not requiring the planned days. Tuna Domestic (355 days)
This is a very difficult and complex fishery within which to achieve observer coverage. Most domestic tuna fishing operations are small, family owned entities who have, prior to 2004/05, rarely had experience of, or contact with, the Observer Programme. The recent introduction of some tuna species into the QMS and the need to resolve bycatch species issues, relating to the QMS introduction, have added to the challenge of achieving coverage in this fishery. However, good progress has been made in establishing contacts with domestic tuna fishers, and observer placements, in the latter part of 2004/05, have been secured. CCAMLR (583 days)
CCAMLR observer coverage is a mandatory requirement of a CCAMLR fishing permit. Observer coverage days are therefore solely determined by fishing activity. Actual fishing activity in 2004/05 was below expected levels, which resulted in a corresponding reduction in observer coverage days. These variances account for 91% of the total shortfall in actual observer coverage days. A process was completed in the second half of 2004/05, applicable to the 2005/06 plan, to identify client observer coverage requirements by species by fishery by month. This process also included detailing the flexibility, from a scientific data perspective, of observer coverage timing. The result was an understanding of coverage fallback options in the event that a lack of fishing activity, or other factors, prevented coverage being delivered as per plan. Detailed data specifications are in the process of being developed with clients that will formalise existing data collection requirements. Monthly operational review meetings with clients are also being held to review coverage versus plan and data quality. |
Clear and transparent processes are operated to identify variations to the observer annual plan (resulting from changing priorities) and effective mechanisms are in place to implement any changes to the plan. |
Achieved |
An Observer Planning Forum, held in February, received an update on the actual and forecasted delivery of the Observer Programme in 2004/05. Actual coverage days versus planned coverage days are also published, and updated monthly, on the Ministry website. Stakeholders are advised of the update's availability. If there are exceptional (>10%) variations identified in projected coverage, at a species level, these are subject to specific industry consultation. |