View Rule

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is implementing mandatory use of a NMFS-approved vessel monitoring system (VMS) and to institute a 48-hour pre-trip call in notification requirement, for permitted West Coast Swordfish Drift Gillnet vessel owners. The swordfish drift gillnet fishery is managed under the federal Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan. The VMS portion of the rule was intended to address a key term and condition embodied in the 2013 Endangered Species Act section 7 Biological Opinion that provides take coverage for the fishery. The pre-trip notification requirement is needed to enhance the coordination and placement of a NMFS observer onboard the vessel if so requested.