West Africa Regional Scientific Observer Training Manual, Forms and Lesson Plans

Regional Scientific Observer Training Manual Version 1.1 (zipped MS word file, 32.5 MB; PDF, 15.3 MB; last updated Oct 24 , 2011) Click here for ENGLISH.

Note: this is a generic version of the manual and country specific informatoin will need to be added for Appendices 1-3

Gabon Manual (zipped MS Word file, 26.7 MB; PDF 11.3 MB; Chapters 8-14 extracted)

Observer Logbook MS Word v1.2 (or PDF; September 4, 2011) - Purpose - provides an overview and essential information for each trip. Includes Trip Summary form, Safety Checklist, Compliance Checklist, daily notes and calculations for total catch estimates.

Forms (.pdf format; date of last update) - all French forms have been formatted for A4.

Trip (8-30-11)	Pelagic LL Gear (13-Oct-11)	Trawl Finfish - Gear (8/9/11)
Vessel (4-Sep-11)	Pelagic LL Set - Haul (13-Oct-11)	Trawl Shrimp - Gear (31-Aug-11)
Safety Checklist (2-Oct-11)	Pelagic LL Catch (30-Sep-11)	Trawl Effort - Total Catch (3-Sep-11)
Compliance Checklist (4-Aug-11)
Catch Composition (30-Sep-11)	Purse Seine Gear (7/1/11)	Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Sighting/Interaction (8/3/11)
Length (30-Sep-11)	Purse Seine Daily Log (7/1/11)	Marine Mammal Carcass & Capture (8/3/11)
Specimen (6/30/11)	Purse Seine Floating Object (7/1/11)	Sea Turtle Accidental Capture (8/24/11)
Tags (3-Sep-11)	Purse Seine Catch Comp (19-Sep-11)
Vessel - Airplane Sightings (6/30/11)
Marine Debris (4-Aug-11)	Species Identification - A4 versions Sharks - Rays/skates - Flatfish - Scorpaenidae - Misc. Fish - Crustacean - Misc. Invert - Seabirds (2008)
Demersal Longline - Gear (13-Oct-11)	Pots/Traps - Gear (8/4/11)
Demersal Longline - Set - haul (13-Oct-11)	Pots/Traps - Set - haul (3-Sep-11)

These forms were made in either MS Excel or MS publisher. If you want to make modifications to the layout for your observer program, contact kim[at]kimdietrich.com and I'll supply you with the master files.

Training Modules [Updated after training in Liberia in May 2011 - note that updates are not all complete]

Handout includes presentation (4 slides/page, Activity instructions & blank forms for activities)

TOPIC	PPT & PDF* format	Lesson Plan (MS Word)	Last update
Vessel Information	PPT (6.4 MB); PDF (1.6 MB)	LP (82 kb) Handout (pdf 1.5 Mb)	Aug 31, 2011
Trip Summary	PPT (0.6 MB); PDF (0.9 MB)	LP (47 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 0.1 Mb)	Oct 20, 2011
Demersal Longline - Fishing & Gear description	PPT (4.6 MB); PDF (1.8 MB)	LP (81 kb) Handout (pdf 0.9 Mb)	Apr.6, 2011
Demersal Longline - Setting/hauling form, catch composition sampling	PPT (3.7 MB); PDF (8.6 MB)	LP (350 kb) Handout (pdf 1.0 Mb)	Apr.6, 2011
Pelagic Longline - Fishing & Gear description	PPT (4.7 MB); PDF (1.4 MB)	LP (63 kb)	July 29,2010
Pelagic Longline - Setting/hauling form, catch composition sampling	PPT (10.5 MB); PDF (1.3 MB)	LP (85 kb)	July 29,2010
Purse Seine - Fishing & Gear description	PPT (5.4 MB); PDF (2.2 MB)	LP (229 kb)	July 29,2010
Purse Seine - Activity Log	PPT (1.6 MB); PDF (611 kb)	LP (72 kb)	August 27, 2010
Purse Seine - Floating Objects	PPT (1.7 MB); PDF (624 kb)	LP (56 kb)	Sep 23, 2010
Purse Seine - Setting & sampling	PPT (0.9 MB); PDF (544 kb)	LP (92 kb)	Nov. 12, 2010
Trawl - Fishing and gear description	PPT (8.3 MB); PDF (xx Mb)	LP (81 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 0.2 MB)	Oct 19, 2011
Trawl - Effort & total catch estimation	PPT (3.4 MB); PDF (xx Mb)	LP (97 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 0.2 Mb) Homework pdf	Oct 8, 2011
Trawl - Catch composition	PPT (2.1 MB); PDF (xx Mb)	LP (168 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 0.1 Mb)	Oct 19, 2011
Pots/Traps - Fishing & Gear description, Total Effort/Catch	PPT (3.8 MB); PDF (XX MB)	LP (166 kb) Handout (pdf xx Mb)	Aug 28, 2011
Pots/Traps -catch composition sampling	PPT (4.8X MB); PDF (XX MB	LP (382 kb) Handout (pdf xx Mb)	Aug 29, 2011
Health & Safety - Your responsibilities, Vessel safety hazards and Personal health & safety (Part 1)	PPT (8.2 MB); PDF (2.5Mb)	LP (84 kb; in English) Handout (pdf; xx Mb)	Aug.13, 2011
Health & Safety - Life saving equipment and Types of emergencies (Part 2)	PPT (22.3 MB); PDF (11.0 Mb)	LP (162 kb; in English) Handout (pdf; 7 kb)	Aug.14, 2011
Health & Safety - Survival at sea & Safety checklist (Part 3)	PPT (3.5 MB); PDF (2.5 Mb)	LP (991 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 106 kb)	Sep 6, 2011
Health & Safety - Gear Go'round & Pool (Part 4)	PPT (1.0 MB); PDF (0.7 Mb)	LP (66 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 9 kb)	Aug.14, 2011
Biological Sampling (Part 1 - lengths)	PPT (10.7 MB); PDF (1.5MB)	LP (733 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 50kb)	Aug 24, 2011
Biological Sampling (Part 2 - specimen collection, tags, ID forms)	PPT (9.1 MB); PDF (2.3MB)	LP (137 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 0.2 Mb)	Aug 1, 2011
Vessel Sightings	PPT (5.3MB); PDF (2.0MB)	LP (47 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 2.4 Mb)	Oct 20, 2011
Marine Debris	PPT (2.9 MB); PDF (1.4 MB)	LP (48 kb) Handout (pdf 0.6 MB)	Aug.15, 2011
Fishing gear overview	PPT (2.9 MB); PDF (1.6 Mb)	LP (33 kb)	Apr.6, 2011
Fisheries management - Activity	PPT (2.0 MB); PDF (0.6 Mb)	LP (64 kb)	Dec.31, 2010
Scientific Observer Program Objectives / Introductions [DRAFT - incomplete]	PPT (8.0 MB); PDF (xx MB)	LP (xx kb)	April 19, 2011
Rights, Responsibilities, Conduct	PPT (xx MB); PDF (xx MB)	LP (xx kb)
Math Review & Statistical Concepts	PPT (xx MB); PDF (xx MB)	LP (xx kb)
Observer Logbook	PPT (1.4MB); PDF (0.5MB)	LP (50 kb; in english) Handout (pdf 0.2 Mb)	Sep 6, 2011
First days on board	PPT (2.0MB); PDF (0.8MB)	LP (48 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 0.8Mb)	Oct 5, 2011
Compliance checklist & documentation procedures	PPT (0.4MB); PDF (0.1MB)		Sep 25, 2011
Random Sampling	PPT (1.9 MB); PDF (0.5MB)	LP (312 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 0.1 Mb)	Aug 8, 2011
Observer Gear & Maintenance	PPT (3.1 MB); PDF (1.3 MB)	Scale maintenance & calibration handout (.doc; 79kb)	Sep 29, 2011
Nautical terms	PPT (4.3 MB); PDF (2.1 MB)	LP (49 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 0.7 Mb)	Aug.25, 2011
Intro. to Navigation	PPT (3.7 MB); PDF (1.8 MB)	LP (74 kb; in English) Handout (pdf 0.8 Mb)	Aug.28, 2011
Seabirds	PPT (12.0 MB); PDF (xx MB)	LP (xx kb)	** 2008

*PDFs may (or may not) include any 'hidden' slides in the PPT presentation but exclude animation.

Older versions