CHRONOLOGY OF THE OBSERVER PROGRAM
Late 1970's... Monitoring the Foreign Fleets
The Canadian 200 mile limit was established in 1977, a significant step towards fisheries management on the continental shelf. There was a need to monitor foreign fishing activity within this zone. To answer this need, the Fisheries Observer program was established in 1978, placing trained personnel aboard vessels of the foreign fleet to observer, record and report on fishing activity.
The 1980's... Program Expands to Domestic Fleet
Observer coverage gradually expanded to cover the larger vessels of the domestic fleet. The year 1987 saw a move towards 100% Observer coverage of the foreign fleet, and the beginning of a decline in foreign fishing activity inside Atlantic Canadian waters.
The 1990's to Present...
The Fisheries Observer Program now focuses primarily on the domestic fleets, providing biological data and monitoring services for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Observer coverage has expanded to a wider variety of fisheries. Since 1995, JAVITECH Limited has managed, trained and provided Fisheries Observers in Atlantic Canada’s Maritime Region in Nova Scotia.
