Southwest Region Observer Program Training Manual January 2007 Southwest Region National Marine Fisheries Service National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration United States Department of Commerce Preface This manual is intended to provide the SWR Observers with the required knowledge needed to fulfill their duties while at sea. This manual is not intended for distribution outside of the training environment or classroom. This training manual is the property of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Southwest Region. CONTENTS Chapter 1- Overview . 1 Introduction . 2 What to Expect. 2 Cruise and Post Cruise Performance . 3 Authority. 4 Pacific Fisheries Management Council. 4 Management Background and FMP’s . 4 Marine Mammal Protection Act . 5 Commercial Fisheries. 6 Endangered Species Act. 6 Conduct . 7 Position of Public Trust . 7 Gifts, Entertainment and favors . 8 Prohibitions . 9 Outside Employment. 9 Use of Government Property. 9 Chapter 2- Fishery Operations . 11 Gillnet Fishery. 12 Drift Gillnet . 12 Set Gillnet . 13 Albacore Troll Operations . 15 Coastal Pelagic Purse Seine Operations . 16 Typical Day at Sea . 18 Driftnet . 18 Setnet . 22 Chapter 3- Species Identification . 25 Introduction to Cetacean Identification. 26 Primary Characteristics . 26 Secondary Characteristics . 26 Color Pattern and Coloration . 27 Characteristic Assignment. 28 Dorsal Fin Shape . 28 Dorsal Fin Location . 29 Capes. 29 Head or Melon Shapes . 30 iii Snouts . 30 Stripes. 31 Pectoral Fins. 31 Flukes . 31 Species You Must Know. 33 Identification Testing . 34 Test Structure. 34 Taking the Test . 34 Bibliography . 35 The Cetaceans . 37 The Dolphins. 38 Short Beaked Common Dolphin. 39 Long Beaked Common Dolphin . 39 Pacific White-sided Dolphin. 39 Bottlenose Dolphin . 41 Risso's Dolphin. 41 Striped Dolphin. 41 Northern Right Whale Dolphin . 43 Short Finned Pilot Whale . 43 Killer Whale . 43 Dall's Porpoise. 45 Harbor Porpoise. 45 The Whales. 47 Sperm Whale. 47 Pygmy Sperm Whale . 47 Dwarf Sperm Whale. 47 Gray Whale . 49 Blue Whale . 49 Minke Whale. 49 Humpback Whale . 50 Fin Whale. 50 Bryde's Whale. 50 Sei Whale . 53 The Beaked Whales . 53 Baird’s Beaked Whale . 53 Cuvier’s Beaked Whale. 53 Hubb’s Beaked Whale . 55 Blainsville’s Beaked Whale . 55 Steneger’s Beaked Whale. 55 Pinnipeds and the Sea Otter . 57 Introduction. 59 Family Phocidae . 59 iv Harbor Seal. 59 Northern Elephant Seal . 59 Family Otariidae. 61 Sub-Family Arctocephalinae. 61 Guadalupe Fur Seal . 61 Northern Fur Seal . 61 Sub-Family Otariinae. 63 Steller Sea Lion . 63 California Sea Lion. 63 Family Mustelidae . 65 Sea Otter. 65 Sea Turtle Identification . 67 Introduction. 69 Loggerhead Turtle. 69 Eastern Pacific Green Turtle . 69 Hawksbill Turtle . 71 Olive Ridley Turtle . 71 Leatherback Turtle . 73 Introduction to Fish Identification . 75 General . 75 Diagnostic Characters . 75 Color Plates. 76 Dichotomous Key . 77 Billfishes. 79 Xiphiidae . 79 Istiophoridae. 79 Sharks and Rays . 85 Introduction. 87 Class Chondrichthyes: Cartilaginous Fishes . 87 Alopiidae. 87 Cetorhinidae . 89 Lamnidae . 91 Carcharhinidae . 93 Sphyrinidae. 95 Squalidae. 95 Triakididae. 97 Heterodontidae . 99 Squantidae . 101 Platyrhindae . 101 v Torpedinidae . 103 Dasyatididae . 103 Myliobatidae . 105 Rajidae . 105 Tunas . 111 Introduction. 113 Scombridae . 113 Other Fishes . 121 Introduction . 123 Engraulididae . 123 Clupidae . 123 Lampridae. 125 Luvaridae. 125 Carangidae . 125 Merlucciidae . 127 Molidae . 129 Bramidae . 129 Serranidae . 131 Sciaenidae . 133 Scorpaenidae . 135 Bothidae . 139 Pleuronectidae . 143 Fish Identification Practice . 147 Specimen 1 . 147 Specimen 2 . 147 Specimen 3 . 149 Chapter 4-Safety at Sea. 149 Introduction . 150 Pre-boarding Duties . 150 Vessel Safety Orientation Checklist. 151 Emergencies on Board . 152 Man Overboard . 153 Cold Water Near Drowning . 153 Flooding . 153 Fire . 154 Radio Distress Call. 154 Abandon Ship . 155 Safety Equipment . 155 Immersion Suits. 155 Personal Floataion Device . 155 Life Rafts . 156 EPIRBS . 156 vi Signaling Flares . 157 Survival Kits . 157 Seven Steps to Survival . 157 Working Safely on Deck-Minimizing the Risks . 158 Seasickness . 159 Fish and Marine Mammal Poisoning . 161 Chapter 5-Conflict Resolution. 163 Coping With Difficult People. 164 Focus. 164 Definition . 164 Unacceptable Behavior. 164 Non-threatening Approaches . 164 Payoffs for Misbehavior . 165.