overview of restructured observer program and observer fees alaska region

Overview ofRestructured

Observer Programand Observer Fees

Alaska Region

Old Observer Program

• Full Coverage: Vessel >125 = observer 100% of days• Vessels paid daily observer costs

• Partial Coverage: Vessel 60-125’ = at least 30% of fishing days.• Vessels choose when to carry observers• Vessels paid daily observer costs

• No coverage: <60’ and halibut vessels• No cost

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries |

New Observer Program• Full Coverage

• At least 100% coverage on every trip• Vessels pays daily observer cost (“pay as you go”)

• Partial Coverage• NMFS deploys observers (industry doesn’t pick the trips)• Annual Deployment Plan: describes how NMFS will deploy observers

into partial coverage fleet• Can change each year

• Coverage rates: depends on funds• Program funded by 1.25% fee on landings

• Everyone pays, whether they are chosen to take an observer or not


Full Coverage• Cost = Pay As You Go• Full Coverage Vessels:• All CPs*• All Motherships• CVs when participating in catch share program with

transferable PSC:• AFA & CDQ pollock in BS• CDQ groundfish, except for pot & jig• Checked into GOA Rockfish Program

• Full Coverage Processors: when receiving BS pollock


*With 3 exceptions

Partial Coverage

Processing Plants:• In 2013, plant observers will monitor GOA pollock

offloads to count & obtain genetic samples of salmon bycatch

Vessels: 2 partial coverage deployment methods 1. Vessel-selection2. Trip-selection


Vessel Selection


• Hook & line and pot vessels between 0 - 57.5’ LOA• Zero Coverage (no probability of selection) in 2013:• Vessels <40’• Vessels using jig (includes troll & dinglebar)

• NMFS randomly selects a set of vessels (~10 every 2-mths)• How notified: letter from NMFS

• Login to ODDS or call to request release from observer coverage & tell us why• NMFS will inspect all vessels that request release• NMFS makes determination if boat can accommodate an observer

• All trips required to be observed for 2-months• Vessels work directly with observer provider to arrange for observers• In-between trips: observer provider has responsibility for observer

Trip-selection• All Trawl vessels and hook & line and pot vessels >57.5’ LOA • Each trip logged into Observer Declare and Deploy System (ODDS)

or by phone with Data Techs• Date & time of departure• Port of departure• Able to log up to 3 trips in advance

• Each trip random probability of selection• How notified: as soon as logged in ODDS or Data Techs• Must log trip at least 72 hrs in advance• If trip is selected, prohibited from leaving without observer unless

NMFS releases from coverage• If selected and cancel the trip, next trip will be automatically assigned

an observerU.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries |

Fees• Each year, NMFS publishes standard price by port, species,

and gear (standard ex-vessel value)• 1.25% fee applied to each all landings• Fee liability split 50/50 between processor & vessel• Estimate of fee will be displayed in eLandings• Final fee invoice Jan 15 each year• Fees due Feb 15• If fees are not paid, renewal of FFP or Registered Buyer

permits may not approved• Annual FFP & RB permits (instead of 3-years)


Observer Fee information eLandings


Two ways to find observer fee info


1. Search for fess (at bottom of the Reports Menu)


Search returns list of reports and Excel export option

Observer Fee Report


Excel export




2. In ‘Summary’ section of Landing Report page

Observer Fee Report


Timing of Observer Fee Reports

• IFQ/CDQ halibut & IFQ sablefish: available within 15 mins of IFQ report submission

• Groundfish: available the day following the initial report submission


overview of restructured observer program and observer fees alaska region

Documents

fishing days