The Observer Station

In this interview two members of the Public Rachel and Phil give their take on the environmental impact of trawl fishing and the urgent need for a paradigm shift in our approach to harvesting marine resources.

Citizen involvement in science spans a wide range of activities, providing diverse opportunities for individuals to actively contribute to scientific research and discovery.

Observer safety is No.1! Heres a break down of whats going on up there.

This week is the first in hopefully many interviews with new observers.

Hey Yall,

Heres a short snip from the meeting. Im going to post a few of these. Let me know what you think about what is being said or what isn't being said.

This episode I go into what went down at the 2023 FMAC meeting and changes that will be coming to a fishery near you.

Social Media, is it bad? Is it Good? The answer may shock you, its Yes and No. If you want the total answer, listen in as Wayne goes to the depths of media to find the truth for you.

Whats the best fish around? No one knows, but these guys and gals sure are hard to beat. Listen in as we try to help with those tricky fish IDs.

Join Co-host Lauren as she reads you the worst jokes she could find!!! It gets lonely, and glum while out at sea make sure to stay positive and what better way than to LAUGH!!

Take a peak into our minds and the type of people we (observers) are! Whether you are new to observing, thinking about being one of us, a super seasoned prior, or just curious; come along with us as we talk pros and cons of our world and share some fun stories along the way!

Join us this week for our Halloween special, be prepared to be titillate and terrified with our stories and native lore of alaska and the dark waters that surround it. 

Hey All, 

   This is the start of our observer podcast. Im sure all of you know plenty about the work you've done but here is some background on us, your hosts, and the fishery that we all work in and the job we do. 

Stuffed with a Thanksgiving feast and possibly giddy from too much pie, Lets chat about our bosses! What is a provider? And how can we navigate this better?

Oh boy am I(Wayne) mad in this one. Listen in as the AP goes into the CP Pot fleet and NMFS try's to find solutions to tossing newbies into the meat grinder that is working on a pot vessel for your first contract. There's a solution that no one want's to look at, and listen in as my blood pressure goes up and I get ever more frustrated at the lack of self-awareness given.

Listen in as we attempt, very poorly, to help you with your fish ID's. There's a lot of fish out there, and here are some helpful tips on identifying some of them.  More episodes like this to come, so feel free to reach out and ask for help and clarification on anything fish related. 

Destress and be Delighted as Jonathan McFall goes into his background and time as a field worker in Dutch Harbor AK. Schooling and jobs can take you to a variety of places, listen in and learn where this journey takes one man. 

Emalil: jonathon.mcfall@ncdenr.gov

https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/marine-fisheries/science-and-statistics/observer-program?fbclid=IwAR1dKPnVGzK-xg8n4rsIRIELX5B3RkjRjiADZTd5LkKCsaiRj0g5lS75qjg#:~:text=The%20N.C.%20Division%20of%20Marine,and%20conservation%20of%20protected%20species

GOOD NEWS FOLKS, thats all we are bringing to you, GREENER DAYS are ahead if you take some of our helpful tips to heart. 

Well, the Council has decided. What they have elected to do will shape the state of Alaska and its food supply, listen in to hear the summary of the latest meeting, or go listen to the meeting and make your own conclusions. 

Here I show you some comments made at the AP meeting as part of the winter NPMFC meeting. These comments deal with the struggles of catching salmon for peoples of all types and backgrounds. 

The world is changing. Listen in as we pressure you to get informed on the changes being made to the oceans around you. This episode explains a little about the group that manages the waters off Alaska and the fisheries that happen inside them. 

Welcome Back to SEASON TWO!!! Boy did we miss you guys but we loved all the feedback and we took what you said and requested to heart! Join us as we open on a rant specially dedicated to all the priors who have reached out! We heard you and we are bringing to light your and our woes about work life balance! 

Listen to Sarah talk about her mentor program idea

Listen to Walter as he talks about current observer events and then proceeds to go on a rambling rant about current observer working conditions and those who work with us. 

Listen in as we talk about the very basics of fishery management and what is done to help keep the machine moving. 

Its Earth Day, so lets have a little chat about that. 

Do you know what MARPOL really is or what to look for? Joins us as we wade through the slurry of MARPOL!

Tune in for April Fools!! 

Tune in to hear from the founder of Net Your Problem, Nicole Baker! She is a former observer who turned a problem she saw everyday while up in Alaska into a business solution. We dive into what fishing nets are made of and how different nets and gear can be turned into reusable pellets or even fuel!! 

Visit Net Your Problem at their website below or find them on Instagram @netyourproblem , maybe you could be an unlikely partner in their pursuit to clean up our world!! 

https://www.netyourproblem.com/

Welcome to our Women's Maritime History episode! We dive into women and their influence in Maritime history, myths, and lore!

If you enjoy the song in this episode follow the link below to enjoy more of their music! 

#womensupportingwomen

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https://sheshanties.com/music-and-video/

In this episode we talk about some of our knowledge on longline then return to Sarah to hear her talk about the IPHC and her brief experience with working on a small Long Line vessel.

Wayne and Lauren talk saltwater union contract and plant life! 

Wacky wonderful whirling world of trawl!! With so much to cover we brought in guest to help us fill in on some experience we don't have yet! Joined by Charles, who has been an observer for the past six years in AK, shares with us some of his experience working on A80 vessels back when the kinks were being worked out!

Get our take on trawl and the wonders of the sea floor!!

Don't know what trawl fishing is; come join us as we talk about the pros and the cons! 

This episode we hear from Erica Westly, a former Saltwater West coast coordinator about her time as both a former observer and a coordinator. 

There's so much to trawl we decided to bring in others to help talk about their experiences with part of it. Here is Sarah, a long term observer for the Alaska Program and one of the most proficient A-80 observers in the Alaska program. 

Wondering what the hell we were talking about and a lot got lost in translation from the first episode? Don't worry we got your back, in the first of many bonus episodes! 

Terms and Germs!

Don't know if this podcast will be your speed and don't have time to waste 40+ minutes to figure it out? Well you're in luck because we  decided to put some clips together for ya! 

Teaser Preview Episode!!!