Commerce Department, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This rule will implement electronic monitoring (EM) program regulations for vessels using groundfish bottom trawl and non-whiting midwater trawl gear in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program. This action will allow vessels using bottom trawl and non- whiting midwater trawl gear to use EM in place of human observers to meet requirements for 100 percent at-sea catch monitoring. This action is intended to increase operational flexibility and reduce monitoring costs for vessels in the groundfish trawl fishery. This rule also revises some language in existing regulations for EM vessels and EM service providers to clarify and streamline EM program requirements.
Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 50 CFR Part 660 [Docket No. 220926-0200] RIN 0648-BH70 AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This rule will implement electronic monitoring (EM) program regulations for vessels using groundfish bottom trawl and non-whiting midwater trawl gear in the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Catch Share Program. This action will allow vessels using bottom trawl and non-whiting midwater trawl gear to use EM in place of human observers to meet requirements for 100 percent at-sea catch monitoring. This action is intended to increase operational flexibility and reduce monitoring costs for vessels in the groundfish trawl fishery. This rule also revises some language in existing regulations for EM vessels and EM service providers to clarify and streamline EM program requirements. DATES: Effective November 2, 2022. Electronic Access This final rule is accessible at the Office of the Federal Register website at https://www.federalregister.gov . Background information and documents are available at the NMFS West Coast Region website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/​species/​west-coast-groundfish and at the Pacific Fishery Management Council's website at https://www.pcouncil.org/​managed_​fishery/​electronic-monitoring/​ . FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colin Sayre, phone: 206-526-4…
Citation: 87 FR 59705
