Request for an observer

Industry-Funded Scallop Observer Program Call-In Guide
For Limited Access (Open Area and Access Area trips) and General Category (Access Area trips)
Northeast Fisheries Observer Program, Feb 5, 2009

STEP I - TRIP NOTIFICATION 72-HOURS PRIOR TO TRIP
No More than 10 days prior to sail date
Call the automated NE Fisheries Scallop Observer Program Number at (508) 495-2100, press 1 to report a
trip, and follow the telephone message prompts:
Gear type – 1=scallop dredge, 2=scallop trawl
Limited Access/General Category – 1=limited access, 2=general category
Area Fishing – 1=NLSA, 2=CAII, 3=HCA, 4=MA Open, 5=GB Open, 6=ET, 7=CAI, 8=DELMARVA
Phone number – enter your 10 digit phone number (DO NOT use ‘1’ before the area code)
Permit number – enter your 6 digit permit number
Name - speak clearly, first and last name, then press # key
Port sailing from - speak clearly, port name including city and state, then press # key
Date of sailing - speak clearly, month, day, and year, then press # key; for General Category, use the
date for Sunday starting that week.
You will receive a trip confirmation number for each call (trip calls for limited access trips, and weekly calls
for general category trips). For the weekly general category calls, call by Thursday if you expect to make any
trips in an access area from Sunday through Saturday of the next week. An email transmission from the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will be sent to your email address(s) within 24 hours and will either
issue a ‘waiver’ or notify you that an observer must be hired for the trip. If you are issued a waiver, you may
begin your trip(s). If you receive an observer notice, please follow the instructions in StepII. Once you make
the initial call, NMFS/NEFOP may take up to 24 hours to inform you if you have been selected for observer
coverage or not. If selected, you MUST provide 48 hours notice to the observer provider. The observer
provider may take up to 18 hours to get back to you on observer availability. If you do not receive VMS
notification within 24 hours, contact the NMFS Vessel Call-in Coordinator.

STEP II - OBSERVER PROVIDER 48-HOURS PRIOR TO TRIP
If you receive an email from NMFS that you must hire an observer for the trip, week (Gen Category) please call
the provider(s) below. For the most current list of approved observer service providers, go to the ‘Sea Scallop
Observer Program Information’ webpage at http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/femad/fsb/ or call the NE Fisheries
Scallop Observer Program Number listed above, and press 2. These are the current providers:

A.I.S. Inc. (508) 990-9057, and East West Technical Services Inc. (860) 223-5165.
If there are no observers available from any of the providers, request a waiver by calling the:

NMFS Vessel Call-in Coordinator at (508) 495-2188 or (508) 560-3550 (cell).
IF THE TRIP IS DELAYED OR CANCELED
If the trip is delayed more than 48 hours beyond the intended sail date, please call the NMFS vessel Call-in
Coordinator to explain. If you had an observer assigned and you canceled the trip, you must take an observer
on your next trip to the same area, unless no observers are available.

TO CHANGE INTENDED FISHING AREA
If you change the area you plan to fish, please call the NE Fisheries Scallop Observer Program Number for a
new confirmation number.

FOR TRIPS THAT LAYOVER IN PORT
If you must interrupt an open area trip and return to port, for example due to weather, do not offload your
catch, and go back out within 48 hours, you may use the same confirmation number and maintain the same
observer status. If any catch is offloaded or the layover time is greater than 48 hours, call the NE Fisheries
Scallop Observer Program Number for a new confirmation number.
This summary is not a substitute for the actual regulations. The full text of the regulations is available at
http://www.nero.noaa.gov or call the Northeast Regional Office at (978) 281-9315.
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