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Dear Federal Permit Holders, Partners, and Stakeholders:
Providing seafood to the Country remains an essential function even in these extraordinary times. Adequately monitoring United States fisheries remains an essential part of that process. However, in recognition of numerous travel or social distancing restrictions or guidance, NOAA Fisheries is temporarily waiving the requirement for federally-permitted vessels participating in the following federal fisheries to carry a fishery observer:
- South Atlantic Penaeid Shrimp
- South Atlantic Rock Shrimp
- South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper
- Southeast Gillnet
- Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish
- Gulf of Mexico Shrimp
- Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Pelagic Longline
- Shark Bottom Longline (Atlantic HMS)
- Shark Gillnet (Atlantic HMS)
This waiver is in effect April 6 through April 20, 2020, after which time we will evaluate the need for an extension. This waiver does not apply to vessels that are currently at sea with an observer on board. In addition, this waiver applies only to human observer coverage and not to electronic monitoring requirements. Note, NOAA Fisheries is not issuing waivers for participants in the Atlantic HMS Shark Research Fishery. All other requirements, including reporting and pre-trip notification call-in requirements, remain in place.
This action is consistent with criteria in the agency’s emergency rule regarding issuing waivers from requirements to carry fishing observers during the COVID-19 pandemic (85 FR 17285, March 27, 2020). Specifically, the first criterion allows NOAA Fisheries to waive observer coverage if local, State, or national governments, or private companies or organizations that deploy observers pursuant to NOAA Fisheries regulations, restrict travel or otherwise issue COVID–19-related social control guidance, or requirement(s) addressing COVID–19-related concerns, such that it is inconsistent with the requirement(s) or not recommended to place an observer(s). At this time, State and local emergency requirements to shelter-in-place and otherwise restrict travel are hindering our ability to deploy observers.
The Southeast Regional Office, the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division within the Office of Sustainable Fisheries, and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center will evaluate the impacts of waivers on our fisheries and observer programs throughout this period by monitoring:
- Fishing activity, in comparison to when observers have been deployed, to track continued compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
- Changes in the level of fishing effort and landings.
- Changes in health and safety guidelines that may affect observer availability and ability to travel.
Sincerely,
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