About Us
A.I.S., Inc. was created to provide observer and inspectional services for maritime commercial, private, and government agencies. A.I.S., Inc. president, Arvidas Poshkus, founded this organization in 1988, after having observed on several foreign fishing vessels for the National Marine Fisheries Service in the 1970’s.
AIS, Inc. began operations by providing NMFS Certified Endangered Species Observers for dredging operations in a number of U.S locations.
Observers are critical to protecting marine mammals and sea turtles during dredging in coastal channels, and during the transportation and dumping of dredge spoils at sea.
Humpback Whale Spy Hopping
In 2001, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) awarded AIS, Inc. the Closed Area Scallop Observing contract. AIS, Inc. hired, trained, and placed observers on scallop vessels fishing in restricted areas. In order for the vessels to gain access to the closed areas, they called into NMFS three days in advance and observers were assigned to 10% of the vessel trips. This program provided scallopers with access to areas closed to other fishing, and valuable data to scallop fisheries scientists.
In 2002, NMFS awarded AIS, Inc. the Fisheries Observer Program (FOP) contract. For this contract, AIS hires and manages marine biologists and biologists to observe fisheries operations aboard commercial fishing vessels. The NMFS trains and certifies observers to record information about the vessel, fishing gear, and catch data. AIS, Inc. was re-awarded the contract in 2006. We are also an NMFS certified observer provider for Industry Funded Programs (IFS).
The primary observer duties include recording catch and discard data on each haul, plus any incidental catches of marine mammals or sea turtles. Upon landing, data is promptly sent to NMFS and entered into NMFS computers for use in fisheries stock assessment, fisheries economics, and endangered species protection.
AIS, Inc. has grown from a small company of less than 10 people in 1990, to a well respected organization of management personnel, professional observers, fisheries biologists, marine mammal experts and data specialists. The company, through its founder and president, and its dedicated employees, has established an enviable reputation for high integrity and sound management in the observer field.
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