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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. 

 
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
Timetable:
Action Date FR Cite
NPRM  12/00/2022 
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