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DOC/NOAA | RIN: 0648-BL69 | Publication ID: Fall 2022 |
Title: ●Regulatory Amendment to Revise Monitoring Requirements for Pot Catcher/Processors Participating in Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Groundfish Fisheries | |
Abstract:
This action revises the monitoring requirements for the Pot Gear Catcher/Processor (CP) fleet participating in Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands (BSAI) groundfish fisheries. This action is needed to address management challenges created by the fishery’s small number of participants, short seasons, and observer data errors. As the preferred source of information for catch and discards in this fishery, it is crucial that observer data used by NMFS for inseason management be as complete and accurate as possible. NMFS is considering two new requirements and additional voluntary measures to improve observer data quality, specifically requiring participants to carry at least one Level 2 observer deployed at all times, and requiring participants comply with pre-cruise meeting notifications. Additionally, NMFS proposes to clarify requirements for participants to choose any of the following voluntary monitoring options: observer sampling stations, motion-compensating platform and flow scales, or carrying additional observers. These changes are intended to reduce the likelihood of data loss on pot CP vessels by ensuring experienced observers are deployed, effective collaboration between the observer and captain and crew, and an improved work environment for observer sampling. This action is expected to impose minimal additional costs to vessel operators to comply with the two new requirements and would provide the option for vessel operators to implement additional measures to improve catch data. NMFS will implement this rule under section 305(d) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. |
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Agency: Department of Commerce(DOC) | Priority: Substantive, Nonsignificant |
RIN Status: First time published in the Unified Agenda | Agenda Stage of Rulemaking: Proposed Rule Stage |
Major: No | Unfunded Mandates: No |
CFR Citation: 50 CFR 679 | |
Legal Authority: 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. |
Legal Deadline:
None |
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Timetable:
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Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Required: Undetermined | Government Levels Affected: None |
Federalism: No | |
Included in the Regulatory Plan: No | |
RIN Data Printed in the FR: No | |
Agency Contact: Jon Kurland Regional Administrator, Alaska Region Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 709 West Ninth Street, Juneau, AK 99801 Phone:907 586-7638 Email: jon.kurland@noaa.gov |