Development of a SIOFA scientific observer data collection manual

The SIOFA Scientific Committee (SC) is tasked to provide fisheries management advice to the SIOFA Meeting of the Parties (MoP). In recent years, SIOFA implemented a series of projects and workshops which contributed to the harmonization of the observer framework. Project SEC2022-OBS1 (2024) constituted the backbone of these efforts, producing observer logbook forms and recommendations which were picked up in workshop WS2024-OBS (2024) and workshop WS2024-OBS2 (2024). These efforts culminated in a dense observer-related agenda item at the 10th annual meeting of the SIOFA SC (2025). SC10 identified as a next step in this process the development of detailed biological sampling requirements for primary and secondary species in all SIOFA fisheries. A list of primary, secondary and bycatch species in SIOFA is available in the annually-updated Appendix A of the Overview of SIOFA Fisheries (https://siofa.org/sites/default/files/files/SIOFA-Fisheries-Overview-2024_redacted.pdf).
The content of this manual must cover sampling of “fish” (Chondrichthyes and bony fishes), crustaceans and molluscs, as well as VME indicator taxa. A paragraph explaining the context, why observers are asked to collect this information and how it is used shall be included in every chapter.
In terms of format, this could be made available on a MOODLE or similar platform hosted by the Secretariat, chapters would be written through the use of the tool “book” in which, text, photos and animated images can be inserted. Videos and screencast shall be used to better illustrate the manual. Chapters would be structured to have as little as duplicate text as possible, for example a chapter on how to identify a fish with a key would be followed by the different ID guides clearly labelled by area. Consultant would have an account with a “teacher” status to upload material on the Moodle platform. The content should also be able to be downloaded so that observers can use it offline.