Observer effect on fisher bycatch reports in the New Zealand ling (Genypterus blacodes) bottom longlining fishery.

The article examines whether observer presence affects commercial fishers' fish bycatch reports in the ling (Genypterus blacodes) bottom longline (BLL) fishery in New Zealand through the implications of observer presence on reporting of particular bycatch species and on the weight of spiny dogfish reported. The data that were given reveals that misreporting of bycatch is common and can introduce significant errors into total catch estimation that can have serious implications for fishery sustainability.