Overview of Restructured Observer Program and Observer Fees Alaska Region

Old Observer Program Full Coverage: Vessel >125 = observer 100% of days Vessels paid daily observer costs Partial Coverage: Vessel ’ = 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 | Page 2

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 U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 3

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 U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 4 *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-selection 2.Trip-selection U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 5

Vessel Selection U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 6 Hook & line and pot vessels between ’ 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 observer U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 7

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) U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 8

Observer Fee information eLandings U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 9

Two ways to find observer fee info U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page Search for fess (at bottom of the Reports Menu)

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 11 Search returns list of reports and Excel export option

U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 12

Two ways to find observer fee info U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 13 Search returns list of reports and Excel export option

Observer Fee Report U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 14

Excel export U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 15

Two ways to find observer fee info U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page In ‘Summary’ section of Landing Report page

Observer Fee Report U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 17

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 U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | NOAA Fisheries | Page 18