Alaska crab and scallop observers collect biological data while living onboard commercial fishing boats working in the Bering Sea and the Gulf of Alaska.

The shellfish and scallop fisheries are managed by quota, which is set by  the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G). They use observer data to monitor crab populations, set catch limits, and monitor interactions with protected seabirds, fish, and corals.

The Bering Sea is a highly productive ecosystem which is home to enormous fish resources as well as many marine mammal and bird species. In addition, observers are likely to wi