0648-BL69 202310 The Regulatory Plan and the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 0600 Department of Commerce DOC Regulatory Amendment to Revise Monitoring Requirements for Pot Catcher/Processors Participating in Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Groundfish Fisheries

NMFS is finalizing regulatory changes to revise the monitoring requirements for Pot Gear Catcher/Processors (CPs) participating in Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) groundfish fisheries. This action is needed to address management challenges through improved observer data collection. This action would require participants to carry a Level 2 observer and comply with pre-cruise meeting notifications. Additionally, this action would require certification and testing standards for participants choosing any of the following voluntary monitoring options: observer sampling stations, motion-compensating platform and flow scales, or additional observers on the vessel. This action would additionally change the location of regulations for the existing monitoring rules for longline CPs and halibut deck sorting and move them under a single subpart with the new regulations.

]]> Substantive, Nonsignificant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Final Rule Stage No No 50 CFR 679 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. No NPRM 07/06/2023 88 FR 43072 NPRM Comment Period End 08/07/2023 Final Action 11/00/2023 No None No No No Jon Kurland Regional Administrator, Alaska Region 0648 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOAA 907 586-7638 jon.kurland@noaa.gov 709 West Ninth Street, Juneau AK 99801