Under the terms of North Carolina’s Incidental Take Permit (ITP), the Division is required to monitor commercial and recreational gill-net fishing activity for protected species. 

During observed fishing trips, observers collect information on: 

Fishing Effort

• Fishing Location
• Soak Time

Fishing Gear

• Mesh Size
• Net length
• Gear configuration

Kept Catch and Bycatch Data

• Counts of kept catch
• Biological data on discarded fish

Protected Species Bycatch

• Species identification
• Condition
• Measurements
• Genetic samples
• Tag information

Water Quality

• Temperature
• Dissolved Oxygen
• Salinity

The ITP requires the Division to observe a certain percentage of all large- and small-mesh gill-net trips. These observed trip requirements must be met each season for each Management Unit (Link to MU section of ITP Page) and are known as observer coverage requirements. 

Small-Mesh Gill Nets (<5 Inches Stretched Mesh)

• Minimum coverage: 1%
• Target coverage: 2%

Large-Mesh Gill Nets (>/= 5 inches Stretched Mesh)

• Minimum coverage: 7%
• Target coverage: 10%

Observed trips are scheduled through the Observer Trip Scheduling System (OTSS). OTSS is an automated system where fishermen report their plans to fish non-exempted gill nets a week in advance. Of those who report, fishermen are randomly selected to take an observer the following week. Those who are not selected are provided with one or more confirmation numbers for the following week allowing them to fish without an observer present.

OTSS helps ensure that fishermen are observed fairly and efficiently while meeting monitoring requirements established under the ITP.

Learn more about OTSS: deq.nc.gov/OTSS

When trips cannot be scheduled in advance, observers and Marine Patrol officers may locate fishing activity on the water. As a result, receiving a confirmation number does not guarantee that a trip will not be observed.

The Observer Program works closely with North Carolina's commercial fishing industry and recreational fishermen to meet monitoring requirements while minimizing disruptions to fishing operations.

Commercial and recreational fishermen selected for observation play an important role in supporting fisheries management and protected species conservation. Data collected through the program help improve understanding of North Carolina's fisheries and marine resources.