Fishing boats can replace human observers with electronic catch monitors
Published Date: 6/16/2025
Notice
Summary
NOAA is renewing a plan that lets West Coast groundfish trawl fishery boats use electronic monitoring instead of human observers to track their catch. This helps keep fishing fair and accurate while saving money. Fishermen and fishery managers should share their thoughts by August 15, 2025, to help shape the program’s future.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Paperwork and compliance costs to use EM
To use EM, vessel owners and EM service providers must submit permit applications, vessel logbooks, and video hard drives and follow other reporting rules. NOAA estimates 200 respondents, a total annual burden of 5,123 hours, and an estimated total annual cost to the public of $1,036,067 for this information collection (OMB Control Number 0648-0785).
Vessels may use electronic monitoring instead of observers
Vessels in the West Coast groundfish trawl fishery may choose electronic monitoring (EM) — video cameras plus sensors like GPS and motion sensors — instead of the required 100% human observer coverage under 50 CFR 660 subpart J. NOAA says EM can be reviewed onshore after trips and "has the potential to reduce monitoring costs" because it avoids deploying a person on the vessel.
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Key Dates
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