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Observer Program
At the core of the
North Pacific monitoring system is a comprehensive, industry-funded,
on-board observer program, coupled with requirements for total weight
measurement of most fish harvested. Except for small vessels less than
60 feet and halibut vessels, all vessels fishing for groundfish in federal waters are
required to carry observers, at their own expense, for at least a
portion of their fishing time. The largest vessels, those over 125
feet, are generally required to carry observers 100% of the time, with
multiple observers required on catcher/processors and in certain
fisheries.
Used in conjunction
with reporting and weighing requirements, the information collected by
observers provides the foundation for in-season management and for
tracking species-specific catch and bycatch amounts. The Council and
NOAA Fisheries are currently developing amendments to the fishery
management plans that are designed to better ensure ongoing collection
and quality observer data.
Observer
Advisory Committee Report, March 2008 |
BSAI and GOA Percent Observed Catch,
2004-2007 5/08 |
Analysis of
Observer Program regulatory changes
4/08, Motion; |
Alternatives for analysis of
Observer Program regulatory changes
motion 2/08 |
Revisions to
the Observer Program 1/08 |
Alternatives for analysis of
Observer Program regulatory changes
6/07 Motion |
Observer
Advisory Committee Report, May 2007 |
Observer
Program Revisions 5/07,
Observer Program Revisions 4/07 |
NMFS Video Monitoring
Discussion Paper 6/06 |
Observer
Restructuring 6/06 |
Observer
Motion, February 2006; Observer Advisory Committee
Report
1/06 |
Problem
Statement and Alternatives for an FMP Amendment to establish
a
new funding and deployment mechanism for the NPGOP, UPDATED June
8, 2005 |
Observer Advisory Committee
report, 5/12/05
FINAL |
Problem Statement and Alternatives
for an FMP Amendment to establish a new funding and deployment
mechanism for the NPGOP, UPDATED 5/05 |
EA/RIR/IRFA for a Fishery Management Plan Amendment to
Establish a New Program for Observer Procurement and Deployment
in the North Pacific 11/04 |
Observer Program
Discussion Paper, 6/1/04 |
Observer Program Discussion Paper 3/04 |
Observer Restructuring 11/03 |
Observer
links:
North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program |
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