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Final Rule for Electronic Monitoring Program Regulations for Bottom Trawl and Non-Whiting Midwater Trawl Vessels
 Birdseye view from an electronic monitoring camera on a fishing vessel, NOAA Office of Science and Technology
NOAA Fisheries issued a final rule that published today on October 3, 2022, in the Federal Register (87 FR 59705) to expand Electronic Monitoring (EM) program regulations to allow vessel operators to use EM on bottom trawl and non-whiting midwater trawl trips in the West Coast Groundfish trawl fishery. On June 28, 2019, NOAA Fisheries published a Final Rule to implement an EM program in the West Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program (84 FR 31146). This final rule will add EM program regulations specific to the distinct operation of bottom trawl gear and non-whiting midwater trawl gear. NOAA Fisheries is proposing this action in accordance with recommendations by the Pacific Fishery Management Council at its April and November 2017 meetings.
In April and June of 2020, the Council also recommended a range of minor changes to existing EM program regulations established under the June 2019 final rule, which have been incorporated here. These changes will refine and clarify mainly administrative requirements of the EM program, and are intended to ensure the EM program meets both its stated goals and monitoring requirements of the Trawl Catch Share Program.
Please visit our website for more information.
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Questions?
Contact Justin Kavanaugh, EM Program Coordinator, at (206) 526-4140
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Fishery Bulletins and Notices
Visit NOAA Fisheries' Rules & Regulations directory to learn more about recent federal management actions affecting managed fish species on the West Coast.
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