Reef fish selection letter, observer notification form,

June 2009

OMB Control #0648-0593. Expires 09/30/2012.

United States Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service

Southeast Fisheries Science Center
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami, FL 33149

Date: DATE XX, 2012
Vessel Owner
Street Address
City, State Zip
Dear Permit Holder:
This letter is to inform you that your vessel, Vessel Name, Doc#, has been selected to
carry an observer for the MONTH through MONTH YEAR, Commercial Reef Fish season
pursuant to MSFCMA § 303(b)(8). Upon receipt of this letter, you are required to contact the
observer coordinator within 24 hours to make arrangements to carry an observer. Even if you
are not planning to fish this season, or sold your vessel, you are still required to contact the
observer coordinator.
NOAA’s authority to require observer coverage is found in the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the Endangered Species
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.)
and their respective implementing regulations.
Primary Contacts:
Mike Harrelson, Observer Coordinator
Pat Cryer, Observer Coordinator
Jeff Pulver, Observer Coordinator
Matt Duffy, Assistant Observer Coordinator
Voice: (409) 766-3525
National Marine Fisheries Service
Galveston Laboratory
4700 Avenue U
Galveston, TX 77551
FAX: (409) 766-3489

Secondary Contact:
Elizabeth Scott-Denton, Program Manager
National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Galveston Laboratory
4700 Avenue U
Galveston, TX 77551
Voice: (409) 766-3571
FAX: (409) 766-3508

After the initial contact with an observer coordinator, as the owner or operator of a vessel
that is selected for observer coverage, under MSFCMA § 303(b) (8), you must notify the
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) before commencing any fishing trip that may
result in the incidental catch or harvest of any reef fish, regardless of the species you are
targeting. You are required to notify the observer coordinator by fax (attached form) or phone
at least 48 hours prior to each fishing trip.
Vessels are selected randomly from a pool of vessels that (1) have a current directed reef
fish permit and (2) historically reported fishing for reef fish with electric reel, handline, and/or
longline gear.
Please note that vessels that have been excused from participating in previous years or
seasons are not automatically excused from participating in the coming season. All selected
vessels must contact the observer coordinator.

Once a NMFS-certified observer is placed aboard your vessel, you are required to:
1. Provide the observer with accommodations and food equivalent to that provided to
the crew (you will be reimbursed for reasonable food costs);
2. Allow the observer access to and use of the vessel's communication equipment and
personnel for transmitting and receiving messages related to the observer's duties;
3. Allow the observer access to and use of the vessel's navigation equipment, charts, and
crew to determine the vessel's position;
4. As provided by 50 C.F.R. 229.7(b), allow the observer free and unobstructed access
to all fish, marine mammals, and sea turtles aboard the vessel for purposes of
collecting measurements, weights, and biological samples. This will also include
access to the vessel's bridge, working decks, holding bins, weight scales, holds, and
any other space used to hold, process, weigh, or store fish;
5. Allow the observer to inspect and copy the vessel's log, communications logs, and
any records associated with the catch and distribution of fish for that trip; and
6. Have or obtain a Commercial Fishing Vessel Examination decal prior to the selection
period. Failure to obtain a safety decal is not justification for fishing without an
observer, and may result in enforcement action. A list of phone numbers for
approved Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiners is included at the end of this letter.
The safety decal must clearly state the number of people that will be onboard,
including the observer and the areas and waters in which the vessel will be fishing.
All safety equipment must be up to date including the EPIRB battery, life raft, and
flares. Life raft capacity must be large enough for all persons on board, including all
crew plus the observer.
Your cooperation with the above requirements is appreciated. We will make every effort
to minimize any disruption of the normal activities of your vessel and crew. The observer is
onboard to collect data only; for safety and liability reasons, the observer will not take part in any
fishing operations.
Thank you for your cooperation, without which collection of this critical information
would not be possible.
Sincerely,
Bonnie Ponwith, Ph.D.
Director, Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Enclosures

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: Information collected through the observer
program will be used to: (1) monitor catch and bycatch; (2) understand the population status and
trends of fish stocks and protected species, as well as the interactions between them; (3)
determine the quantity and distribution of net benefits derived from living marine resources; (4)
predict the biological, ecological, and economic impacts of existing management actions and
proposed management options; and (5) ensure that the observer programs can safely and
efficiently collect the information required for the previous four uses. In particular, the observer
program provides information that is used in analyses that support the conservation and
management of living marine resources and that are required under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), Executive Order 12866 (EO 12866), and other applicable law.
Most of the information collected by observers is obtained through “direct observation by an
employee or agent of the sponsoring agency or through non-standardized oral communication in
connection with such direct observations". Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
regulations at 5 C.F.R. 1320.3(h) (3), facts or opinions obtained through such observations and
communications are not considered to be "information" subject to the PRA. The public reporting
burden for responding to the questions that observers ask and that are subject to the PRA is
estimated to average 65 minutes per trip, including the time for hearing and understanding the
questions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: National Marine Fisheries Service, Shrimp and Reef Fish Observer Programs,
4700 Avenue U, Galveston, Texas 77551. Providing the requested information is mandatory
under regulations at 50 C.F.R. 600.746 for the safety questions and at 50 C.F.R. 222.401, 50
C.F.R. 229.7, and 50 C.F.R. 622.8 for all other questions. All information collected by observers
will be kept confidential as required under Section 402(b) of the MSA (18 U.S.C. 1881a (b)) and
regulations at 50 C.F.R. Part 600, Subpart E. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no
person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply
with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. This is an
approved information collection under OMB Control No. 0648-0593 through 09/30/2012.

Reef Fish - Observer FAX Notification Form
This form is provided for your response. Please complete and return this form at least 48 hours prior to
your estimated departure. The information can be mailed to: NOAA/NMFS, Galveston Laboratory,
4700 Avenue U, Galveston, TX 77551 or Faxed to (409-766-3489); ATTN: MIKE HARRELSON,
PAT CRYER, JEFF PULVER and/or MATT DUFFY. If the vessel is not fishing or is involved in
another fishery during the selection period, please state in the comment section of this form which fishery
and gear used (include contact number).
Captain's Name: _______________________________ Vessel Name: ____________________________
Documentation/Vessel Number: _______________________________ Overall Length: __________ (ft)
Crew Size: _______ (include skipper)

Bunk Capacity: _________

Life Raft Capacity: __________

Contact Person/Telephone Number(s): _____________________________________________________
Communication Equipment (please list)
Cellular / SAT phone:
VHF:

Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety
Examination Decal
Serial Number:
Date of issuance
________/________
Month
Year

Single Side Band:
Call sign:
Vessel Fishing Status:
Port of Departure:

Dock Facility: _________________________________________________________________________
Street: _______________________________________________________________________________
City: ___________________________ State: _____
Departure Date: ___/___/___

Phone Number: (

Time: ___:___ (AM or PM)

) _______-____________

Anticipated Landing Date: ___/___/___

Expected Landing Port: (if different from port of departure)
Dock Facility: _________________________________________________________________________
Street: _______________________________________________________________________________
City: ____________________________ State: ______

Phone Number: (

) ______-_____________

Primary Language: (if other than English) ________________________
Comments: __________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: Collection of information through the observer program provides data for stock assessments and estimates of
bycatch. Public reporting burden for completing the vessel information form above is estimated at 2 minutes per response. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden to: National Marine Fisheries Service, F/SF1, 1315East
West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Providing the requested information is mandatory fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (16U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) In accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, it is agency policy not to release confidential information, other
than in aggregate form. Not withstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to
comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information displays a currently valid
OMB Control Number. This is an approved information collection under OMB#0648-0374 and expires Sept 30, 2008.

June 2009

OMB Control #0648-0593. Expires 09/30/2012.

Observer Evaluation
The SEFSC Galveston Laboratory will be placing an observer aboard your vessel for observer coverage.
In an attempt to monitor the quality of observers we send on commercial vessels, we would appreciate it
if once the trip is completed you would take the time to fill out this questionnaire. We wish to ensure that
the observers conduct themselves professionally and safely during deployment. Please fill in the
information below and return to: NOAA/NMFS, Reef and Shrimp Observer Program, 4700 Avenue
U, Galveston, Texas 77551. Your information is important in helping us improve the observer program.
If you are the owner and were not present during the trip, please consult with your captain.
Vessel name: _______________________________ Vessel Doc. #: _____________________________
Your name: _______________________________ Observer name: ____________________________
Your status (check one): Owner______ Captain ______ Other ______________________________
Please provide responses by checking yes or no in the space provided. Space has been provided on the
back of the form if you wish to include detailed comments about the observer.
1. Was the observer on time and prepared for the trip? Yes ___ No ___
2. Did you and the observer discuss vessel safety procedures prior to departure? Yes ___ No ___
3. Did the observer explain their sampling requirements and duties prior to departure? Yes ___ No ___
4. Was the observer professional, courteous and polite? Yes ___ No ___
5. Did the observer appear to conduct the duties they were responsible for during the trip?
Yes ___ No ___
6. Was sampling conducted in a timely manner as to not substantially impact your normal operations?
Yes ___ No ___
7. Did observer help maintain cleanliness standards in accordance with the vessels normal policy in the
following areas? Work (Yes ___ No ___); Bunk (Yes ___ No ___); Galley (Yes ___ No ___)
If you have any other concerns regarding, safety, the observer, or observer procedures during the
trip please explain in the additional comment section provided on the back of form.
Additional comments: __________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: The information provided on this form will be used by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to
improve observer training under section 403(b) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (16 U.S.C. 1801, et seq.), which will assist NMFS to collect information that is used in
analyses that support the conservation and management of living marine resources and that are required under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (MSA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), Executive Order 12866 (EO 12866), and other applicable law. The public reporting burden for this form is estimated to average 15
minutes, including the time for completing, reviewing, and transmitting the information on the form. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden to: National Marine Fisheries Service, Shrimp and Reef Fish Observer
Programs, 4700 Avenue U, Galveston, Texas 77551. Providing the requested information is voluntary. All identifying data submitted will be handled as confidential
material in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100, Protection of Confidential Fishery Statistics. Other information collected on this form may be
subject to public release under various statutes. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to
a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act, unless that collection of information
displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. This is an approved information collection under OMB Control No. 0648-0593 through 09/30/2012.

June 2009

OM B Control No. 0648-0593, expires 9-30-2012

SAFETY!CHECKOFF!FORM
Observer!Name
Vessel!Name

Trip!Number
Vessel!Number

Safety!Check!list!(Offshore!20+!Miles)
USCG!Safety!Exam!Decal!#
Life!Saving!Equipment
Life!Raft?

Date!issued:
Expiration!Date:

Type

Distance!Rating:

Inspection!Date:
Expiration!Date:

Life!Raft!Hydrostatic!Release!Expiration!Date:

Capacity?
Total!#!of!People!Onboard:
(This!number!is!including!the!Observe

EPIRB!Location:

EPIRB!Battery!Expiration!Date:

EPIRB!Hydrostatic!Release!Expiration!Date:
Personal!Flotation!Device!for!each!person!on!board!(POB)?
Immersion!Suit!for!each!POB?

Location(s):

(only!required!above!32'00!N!latitude)

Orange!Ring!Buoy(s)!with!Line!attached?
Distress!Flares?!

Location(s):
Location(s):

Expiration!Date!for!each!distress!flare.
Parachute

Smoke

Hand

Hand

Parachute

Smoke

Hand

Hand

Parachute

Smoke

Hand

Hand

Fire!Fighting!Equipment

Fire!Extinguishers!Charged?

Location!1:

Location!3:

Location!2:

Location!4:

Communication!Equipment
Single!Side!Band

Vessel!Call!Letters:
Satellite!Phone!#!(if!applicable)

VHF

Other

Vessel!Cell!Phone!#!(if!applicable)

First!Aid!Kit?

Location(s):

Ditch!Bag?

Location(s):

Detailed!Description!of!Vessel!and!Comments:

Page!1!of!2

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

!

June 2009

OM B Control No. 0648-0593, expires 9-30-2012

SAFETY!CHECK!OFF!FORM
STATION!BILL
Person!Overboard
Signal :!!
Position

Fire
Si gnal:!!

Station/Bring/Duty

Trip!#

Flooding
Si gnal :!!

Station/Bring/Duty

Station/Bring/Duty

Abandon!Ship
Signal:!!
Station/Bring/Duty

Captai n

Crew

Crew

Crew

Observer
Date!performed

Vessel!Safety!Orientation!(check!all!performed)
Vessel!Layout:
Engi ne!on/off,!steeri ng,!gear!selection,!etc.
Shut!off!and!crossover!val ves.
Al arms:!what!they!are,!what!they!mean,!reporting!inoperati ve!alarms.!
Entrapment:!exit!routes.
Hazards:!hatches,!wi nches,!machi nery,!li nes,!sl ippery!areas,!s tabi li ty!concerns,!etc.

Emergency!Assignments!(not!on!the!Station!Bill):!Each!Crew!Member's!Specific!Duties!In
Launching!survival!craft!and!recoveri ng!li fe!boats!and!rescue!boats.
Donni ng!i mmersion!suits!and!wearable!PFDs.
Making!a!voi ce!radi o!di stress!call .
Usi ng!visual !di stress!si gnals.
Activati ng!the!general !al arm.

Pre"Trip!Safety!Skill(s)
At!least!once!per!month!and!before!each!new!departure,!one!safety!skill/assignment!must!be!performed!and!logged.!!In!the!space!
below!list!the!skill!(s)!performed!and/or!include!safety!assignment,!then!sign!and!date!at!the!bottom.

To!be!completed!by!captain:!!
Sampling!protocol!has!been!explained!by!observer!and!is!understood.!!Yes!____!!No!____

!

Observer!Signature!and!Date:

!/!!!!!!!!/

Captain!Signature!and!Date:

!/!!!!!!!!/