Abstract

The staff of the National Observers Program of Venezuela and the Foundation for Sustainable and Responsible Fisheries Tuna (PNOV-FUNDATUN) have been carrying out various surveys aboard fishing boats in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and in the Caribbean and Atlantic adjacent waters to Venezuela. The success of a fishery observer program depends largely on the recruitment techniques, training, and developing the efficiency of each observer. The role that PNOV-FUNDATUN plays in facilitating trust between groups that may or may not have a lot of it, and plays a role in making bridges between fishers and government agencies, both of which are important elements for successful results. The design and implementation of a training program organized with appropriate teaching support are essential to achieve the required levels of operation during surveys on different boats. In the last 10 years, the PNOV has covered all the necessaries steps to such a program like this one needs. The PNOV-FUNDATUN provides a prioritized list of duties in its sampling manuals. Those priorities are destined to expand as the Observer Program continues to mature, as new resource concerns arise, and as more researchers become aware of the Program as a potential source of valuable data. Therefore, programs with a history as PNOV have an advantage for more consistent training and could be adjusted to the realities of the fisheries in the region to which it belongs. A Fisheries Observer Program established as our own, throughout the whole provides the tools that lead to more sustainable fisheries.

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