Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA Fisheries Service
- Office for Law Enforcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 20, 2007

NOAA Encourages Commercial Fishermen to Participate in Upcoming Vessel Monitoring System “Town Hall Meetings”

The NOAA Fisheries Service’s Office of Law Enforcement will be holding Town Hall meetings to address the Final Rule regarding the requirement of vessels participating in the ‘Open Access Fishery’ to comply with the NOAA Vessel Monitoring System. This rule will require all vessels participating in this fishery to activate and use a type-approved vessel monitoring system transceiver and communicator provider while engaging in fishing activities off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California.

These Town Halls will include a presentation on VMS requirements, purchase reimbursement program, declaration procedures and enforcement issues. A question and answer session will follow each meeting.

Meeting locations in Washington and Oregon