SEAFOOD.COM NEWS by John Sackton (with material from Gloucester Times) - June 16, 2010 - One of the issues discussed between fishermen and NOAA in both Gloucester and New Bedford was the repeated instances of inexperienced observers interfering with safety systems.

The problem is just one of the complaints about the ramp up of the observer program, in which companies have hired poorly trained and inexperienced recruits.

Federal regulations require that observers check safety systems on board vessels, prior to going out. The problem is that it appears some do not know how to do so.

According to an exchange of e-mails between Eric Brazer Jr., of the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association, and Rodney Avila, a New Bedford boat owner and council member, at least eight fishermen have watched inexperienced observers fumble or compromise boats' EPIRB equipment. In most cases this is the result of the observer trying to check the charge or the battery condition, and not being familiar with the equipment.

The same issue was raised in Gloucester. Joe Orlando, who owns and operates a Gloucester dragger, told the meeting that an on-board observer, required to count fish and conduct safety inspections, had recently gone onto the roof of the cabin of his boat, the Padre Pio, opened and looked inside the water-activated EPIRB element.

Orlando said the observer on this recent trip was not trained or knowledgeable about the EPIRB system. 'It's very technical; I don't even touch it,' said Orlando.

'It's crazy; a kid's who's never been fishing before was checking safety equipment,' he added.

In a separate incident, documented in New Bedford, an observer dropped the EPIRB and cracked the antenna, and never told the captain. For two trips, the EPIRB was not sending a signal, and it was not until the supplier did their monthly safety check that they found the EPIRB was compromised.