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. Project OBS-2025-01 started in 2025 with the aim to produce an observer manual which 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. The purpose of the WS2026-OBS workshop is to discuss the final report of Project OBS-2025-01: Development of a SIOFA Scientific Observer Data Collection Manual which will be available in June 2026, with particular regard to the formatting issues that arose during the SC11 discussions.
Objectives:
Evaluate the needs regarding format of the proposed observer manual from project OBS-2025-01
- What is the intended format of the SIOFA Scientific Observer Data Collection Manual, an e-manual (interactive digital manual) or a PDF manual?
- If it is an e-manual, where will it be uploaded, the SIOFA Secretariat website or a learning management platform (e.g., Moodle)?
- If it is an e-manual, who will upload it, when, how, and what are the current personnel, budget, and time constraints?
Chair: FR-OT (Nicolas Gasco / Charlotte Chazeau)
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