In 1995, inshore fish harvesters and federal department of Fisheries and Oceans scientists formed a partnership to conduct the sentinel survey in various NAFO (Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization) division. In April 1996, Fisheries and Oceans Minister Fred Mifflin announced that the sentinel survey would continue this year in Newfoundland and Labrador and in the Maritime and Laurentien regions.

As a result of the cod moratorium in the early 1990s, it was no longer possible to use catch information from fish harvesters in fish stock assessment. The sentinel survey was therefore designed as an alternative method of collecting this valuable assessment information on cod stocks.

Because of their extensive knowledge of the fishery and of traditional fishing grounds, inshore fish harvesters are the primary collectors of data in the sentinel survey. Fish harvesters participating in the survey follow scientific guidelines and have been trained in data collection techniques by DFO and the Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland.

The data received from sentinel participants is added to existing stock assessment information and is used to provide resource information to fisheries managers. In this way, inshore fish harvesters’ knowledge of fishing patterns is incorporated into the resource assessment process.