2018 Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Annual Discard Report with Observer Sea Day Allocation

Excerpts - Full Document: https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/fsb/SBRM/2018/
tm244_2018_Standardized_Bycatch_Reporting_Allocation.pdf
1.

Correspondence (June 12-14, 2018) M

#7b

NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-244
This series represents a secondary level of scientific publishing. All issues employ thorough internal
scientific review; some issues employ external scientific review. Reviews are transparent collegial
reviews, not anonymous peer reviews. All issues may be cited in formal scientific communications.

2018 Standardized Bycatch Reporting
Methodology Annual Discard Report
with Observer Sea Day Allocation
Northeast Fisheries Science Center1
and Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office2
1

NOAA Fisheries, 166 Water Street, Woods Hole, MA 02543
NOAA Fisheries, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930

2

US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
April 2018

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
AA = Access area
ACCSP = Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program
ASM = At-Sea Monitoring Program
CV = coefficient of variation
ESA = Endangered Species Act
FMP = fishery management plan
FSB = Fisheries Sampling Branch
FY = Fiscal Year
GEN = General category
IFS = Industry Funded Scallop Observer program
lg = large mesh
LIM = Limited access category
MA = Mid-Atlantic
MMPA = Marine Mammal Protection Act
NE = New England
NEFOP = Northeast Fisheries Observer Program
NEFSC = Northeast Fisheries Science Center
NMFS = National Marine Fisheries Service
NOAA = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NY DEC = New York Department of Environmental Conservation
OPEN = Nonaccess area
PTNS = Pre-Trip Notification System
SBRM = Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology
SE = standard error of the estimate
sm = small mesh
TDD = Turtle Deflector Dredge
US = United States
VTR = Vessel Trip Report
xlg = extra large mesh

vi

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This document contains a compilation of the information to meet the 2018 SBRM annual
discard report requirements. For fish and invertebrate species groups, several of the required annual
discard report elements (discards and precision by fleet) can be found in Wigley and Tholke 2018,
along with a description of the data sources, methods, results, and discussion. Similarly, for sea
turtles, further information can be found in Murray 2012, 2015a, 2018.
An estimated 69,947 mt (154,206,116 lb) of federally regulated species were discarded during
the July 2016 through June 2017 time period.
Estimates of sea turtle interactions in sink gillnet gear in the Mid-Atlantic and Georges Bank
region from 2012-2016. There were an estimated 141 loggerhead interactions per year, 29 Kemp’s
ridley interactions per year, 5 leatherback interactions per year, and 22 unidentified hard-shelled
turtle interactions per year in this gear type.
After sea days adjustments, a total of 10,568 sea days is needed to monitor the 15 Standardized
Bycatch Reporting Methodology species groups (14 fish/invertebrates species groups and 1 sea
turtle species) during the April 2018 through March 2019 period. Of the 10,568 sea days, 7,519 sea
days are needed for agency-funded fleets and 3,049 sea days are needed for industry-funded fleets.
The funds available to the NEFSC’s Northeast Fisheries Sampling Branch in fiscal year (FY)
2018 are estimated to provide support for 5,122 days and 3,131 days are carried over (i.e., bought
ahead) from FY2017 funds for a total of 8,253 days for the April 2018 through March 2019 time
period. Based upon an observer set-aside compensation rate analysis for the Industry Funded
Scallop program, there is industry funding for 4,101 days. Hence, 12,354 days are available for
observer coverage during April 2018 through March 2019.
Within the agency-funded fleets and prioritization-applicable funding, funded days exceed the
needed days resulting in an estimated surplus of funds equivalent to approximately 162 days. The
2018 funding does not trigger the SBRM prioritization approach. In addition, practical limitations
prevent the observer program from covering the 28 sea days associated with 5 fleets. Hence, a
funding equivalent to the 190 sea days will be utilized at the agency’s discretion. Any remaining
discretionary observer funds disseminated to the NEFSC, if any, will be used at the agency’s
discretion.
The numbers of sea days allocated by fleet (where a fleet represents gear type, access area, trip
category, region, and mesh group combinations) are given for the April 2018 through March 2019
period.
There is a proposed SBRM framework action to expand the sampling frame for the MidAtlantic and New England lobster pot fleets. If the framework action is approved, then beginning
in the calendar quarter following final approval, all active federal lobster vessels may be eligible
for selection to take an observer, regardless of whether they are required to submit VTRs.

vii

INTRODUCTION
The Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) Omnibus Amendment was
implemented on 27 February 2008 (NMFS 2008, NEFMC 2007) and later vacated by the US
District Court for the District of Columbia and remanded back to National Marine Fisheries Service
(NMFS) on 15 September 2011 due to a deficiency associated with the prioritization process, an
element of the amendment. On 29 December 2011, NMFS removed the regulations implementing
the SBRM (NMFS 2011). A revised SBRM Omnibus Amendment (NEFMC 2015), hereafter
referred to as the SBRM amendment, was approved on 13 March 2015 and a final rule was
implemented on 30 July 2015.
The SBRM amendment requires an annual discard report utilizing information obtained from
the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s (NEFSC) Fisheries Sampling Branch’s (FSB) observer
programs (Northeast Fisheries Observer Program [NEFOP] and Industry Funded Scallop [IFS]
observer program) for 14 federally managed species groups 1 and sea turtles (Table 1). Specifically,
the SBRM annual discard report requirements include: “…summaries of the trips observed, fishing
modes in the relevant time period, funding issues and other related issues and developments, and
projections of coverage across fisheries for upcoming time period. More detailed information
would be provided in tables and figures that addressed: The number of observer trips and sea days
scheduled that were accomplished for each fishing mode and quarter, as well as the number of trips
and sea days of industry activity; the kept weight from unobserved quarters and statistical areas
summarized by fishing mode; the amount kept and estimated discards of each species by fishing
mode; and the relationship between sample size and precision for relevant fishing modes.”(NEFMC
2015, pages 237-238).
This document contains a compilation of the information to meet the 2018 SBRM annual
discard report requirements. For fish and invertebrate species groups, several of the required annual
discard report elements can be found in Wigley and Tholke 2018, along with a description of the
data sources, methods, results, and discussion. Similarly, for sea turtles, further information can be
found in Murray 2012, 2015a, 2018. This document also presents the number of sea days needed to
monitor the 15 species groups, the funding available for observer coverage, and the numbers of sea
days allocated by fleet2 (where a fleet represents gear type, access area, trip category, region, and
mesh group combinations) for the April 2018 through March 2019 period.

SUMMARY OF OBSERVER COVERAGE
A total of 3,238 trips (9,149 days) was observed during the July 2016 through June 2017 time
period. When these trips were stratified by fleet and quarter, some trips were partitioned between
fleets resulting in 3,445 trips (9,654 days). See Tables 2 and 3 in Wigley and Tholke 2018 for a
summary of the number of observed trips and industry Vessel Trip Reports (VTR) trips by fleet and

1

As of December 15, 2017, blueline tilefish became a federally managed species in the Mid-Atlantic Fishery
Management Council’s Golden and Blueline Tilefish Fishery Management Plan.
2

Fleets are synonymous with “fishing modes”.

1

calendar quarter and a summary of the number of observed sea days and industry sea days by fleet
and calendar quarter, respectively. There were 68 fleets uniquely identified in the July 2016 through
June 2017 data. Based upon the industry activity during this time period, 10 new fleets were added
to the collection of fleets analyzed (Wigley and Tholke 2018). Additionally, scallop trawl, twin
trawl, shrimp trawl, beam trawl, and mid-water trawl fleets were partitioned into specific mesh size
groups to create consistency in mesh size groups among all trawl fleets (Wigley and Tholke 2018).
A spatial and temporal analysis of the kept weight of all species (i.e., any species retained
during the trip) from statistical areas and calendar quarter was conducted. Over all fleets, 72% of
kept weight of all species occurred in statistical areas and calendar quarters that had observer
coverage. For a summary of the percentage of kept weight with observer coverage by fleet for the
July 2016 through June 2017 time period, see Table 4 in Wigley and Tholke 2018.

SUMMARY OF DISCARD ESTIMATES
For fish/invertebrate species, the total catch, kept, and estimated discards (in live weight) and
their associated coefficient of variation (CV) were derived for fleets using data collected during the
July 2016 through June 2017 time period (Wigley and Tholke 2018). Based upon that discard
estimation analysis, an estimated 69,947 mt (154,206,116 lb of federally regulated species were
discarded (Table 2). Fleet abbreviations used in this report are described in Appendix Table 1. See
Table 5A and 5B in Wigley and Tholke 2018 for summaries by fleet and SBRM species group and
by fleet and individual species that compose these 14 species groups, respectively.
The most recent average annual estimates of sea turtle interactions and CVs in U.S. MidAtlantic commercial fisheries are listed in Table 3. Methods to estimate sea day needs for the
different gear types can be found in either Murray (2012) or Murray (2018).

2

Table 2 Total catch (live lb), Vessel Trip Report landings (kept; live lb), estimated discards (live lb), associated coefficient of variation (CV),
and standard error of the estimated discards (SE; live lb) for 14 Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) species groups
combined, by fleet, based on July 2016 through June 2017 data. Dark shading indicates fleets not considered or with no observed trips in
the annual analysis. These CV were not used in the annual sample size analysis. Blank CV indicates either no discards or discards equals 0.
"P" indicates fleets with "pilot" designation. Taken from Table 5C in Wigley and Tholke 2018.
Species: 14 SBRM SPECIES GROUPS COMBINED
Fleet
Row Gear Type

Access
Area

Trip
Region
Category

Mesh
Group

Total

Kept

1

Longline, Bottom

OPEN

all

MA

all

1,858,295

1,643,691

214,605

0.666

142,979

2

Longline, Bottom

OPEN

all

NE

all

7,093,565

6,336,502

757,063

0.907

687,002

3

Hand Line

OPEN

all

MA

all

333,468

327,239

6,229

0.694

4,324

4

Hand Line

OPEN

all

NE

all

2,228,616

2,222,016

6,599

0.588

3,879

5

Otter Trawl

OPEN

all

MA

sm

34,589,991

21,721,179

12,868,811

0.090

1,154,165

6

Otter Trawl

OPEN

all

MA

lg

24,599,124

12,888,606

11,710,518

0.096

1,129,501

7

Otter Trawl

OPEN

all

NE

sm

73,949,077

61,275,706

12,673,371

0.096

1,213,450

8

Otter Trawl

OPEN

all

NE

lg

76,348,669

48,380,632

27,968,037

0.105

2,926,736

9

Otter Trawl, Scallop

AA

GEN

MA

sm

77,385

38,901

38,484

0.275

10,590

10

Otter Trawl, Scallop

AA

GEN

MA

lg

337,735

273,753

63,982

0.445

28,460

P

11

Otter Trawl, Scallop

OPEN

GEN

MA

sm

147,070

61,744

85,326

0.108

9,176

P

12

Otter Trawl, Scallop

OPEN

GEN

MA

lg

1,820,876

1,308,864

512,012

0.299

152,874

14

Otter Trawl, Scallop

OPEN

LIM

MA

lg

214,261

62,243

152,017

0.000

0

P

15

Otter Trawl, Twin

OPEN

all

MA

sm

1,446,304

1,038,141

408,163

0.139

56,830

P

18

Otter Trawl, Ruhle

OPEN

all

MA

sm

273,414

273,414

19

Otter Trawl, Ruhle

OPEN

all

NE

sm

1,517,081

1,517,081

20

Otter Trawl, Ruhle

OPEN

all

NE

lg

316,083

180,166

135,917

0.000

0

P

21

Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator

OPEN

all

NE

lg

4,853,539

2,805,177

2,048,363

0.141

287,885

P

22

Otter Trawl, Shrimp

OPEN

all

MA

sm

45,246

4,270

40,976

0.000

0

P

23

Otter Trawl, Shrimp

OPEN

all

NE

sm

194,950

194,950

24

Otter Trawl, Twin, Shrimp

OPEN

all

MA

sm

705,700

2,074

703,626

0.211

148,763

25

Otter Trawl, Other

OPEN

all

MA

sm

114,143

114,143

P

27

Otter Trawl, Other

OPEN

all

NE

sm

324,228

324,228

P

29

Floating Trap

OPEN

all

NE

all

10,504

10,504

30

Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift

OPEN

all

MA

sm

2,532,728

2,312,035

220,692

0.350

31

Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift

OPEN

all

MA

lg

6,670,169

6,378,608

291,561

0.124

36,236

32

Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift

OPEN

all

MA

xlg

6,152,429

5,163,692

988,738

0.107

105,415

33

Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift

OPEN

all

NE

sm

22,845

20,740

2,104

0.000

0

34

Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift

OPEN

all

NE

lg

9,523,193

8,736,042

787,151

0.287

225,687

See Appendix Table 1 for fleet abbreviations.

17

Discarded

CV

SE

Pilot

P

P
P

P

P
77,317

P

Table 2, continued. Total catch (live lb), Vessel Trip Report landings (kept; live lb), estimated discards (live lb), associated coefficient of
variation (CV), and standard error of the estimated discards (SE; live lb) for 14 Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) species
groups combined, by fleet, based on July 2016 through June 2017 data. Dark shading indicates fleets not considered or with no observed
trips in the annual analysis. These CV were not used in the annual sample size analysis. Blank CV indicates either no discards or discards
equals 0. "P" indicates fleets with "pilot" designation. Taken from Table 5C in Wigley and Tholke 2018.
Species: 14 SBRM SPECIES GROUPS COMBINED
Fleet
Row Gear Type

Access
Area

Trip
Region
Category

Mesh
Group

Total

Kept

Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift

OPEN

all

NE

xlg

36

Purse Seine

OPEN

all

MA

all

0

0

37

Purse Seine

OPEN

all

NE

all

49,977,720

38

Dredge, Scallop

AA

GEN

MA

all

39

Dredge, Scallop

AA

GEN

NE

all

40

Dredge, Scallop

AA

LIM

MA

41

Dredge, Scallop

AA

LIM

42

Dredge, Scallop

OPEN

GEN

43

Dredge, Scallop

OPEN

44

Dredge, Scallop

OPEN

45

Dredge, Scallop

OPEN

48

Trawl, Mid-water Paired&Single

AA

49

Trawl, Mid-water Paired&Single

OPEN

50

Trawl, Mid-water Paired&Single

53
54

SE

Pilot

0.081

245,229

49,967,871

9,849

0.658

6,485

6,110,147

4,739,975

1,370,172

0.243

333,136

5,055,291

4,451,449

603,842

0.128

77,258

all

84,161,452

69,222,452

14,939,000

0.125

1,864,896

NE

all

140,497,949

110,358,100

30,139,849

0.111

3,337,482

MA

all

15,015,503

12,051,591

2,963,912

0.097

286,370

GEN

NE

all

8,779,208

7,541,948

1,237,260

0.148

182,812

LIM

MA

all

62,681,838

56,629,542

6,052,295

0.096

579,227

LIM

NE

all

141,744,817

126,866,058

14,878,759

0.088

1,312,160

all

NE

sm

6,659,240

6,651,575

7,665

0.260

1,992

all

MA

sm

3,996,203

3,987,192

9,011

0.733

6,607

OPEN

all

NE

sm

66,329,205

66,193,957

135,248

0.683

92,333

Pots and Traps, Fish

OPEN

all

MA

all

481,812

335,852

145,960

0.256

37,336

Pots and Traps, Fish

OPEN

all

NE

all

347,401

181,143

166,258

0.179

29,720

55

Pots and Traps, Conch

OPEN

all

MA

all

7,384

7,292

92

0.899

83

56

Pots and Traps, Conch

OPEN

all

NE

all

1,519

1,077

442

0.599

265

58

Pots and Traps, Lobster

OPEN

all

MA

all

254,875

177,963

76,912

1.148

88,300

59

Pots and Traps, Lobster

OPEN

all

NE

all

154,458

50,383

104,075

0.659

68,587

61

Pots and Traps, Crab

OPEN

all

MA

all

488,739

305,231

183,508

0.398

73,105

62

Pots and Traps, Crab

OPEN

all

NE

all

4,023,966

2,893,361

1,130,605

0.233

263,871

63

Beam Trawl

OPEN

all

MA

sm

30,000

30,000

65

Dredge, Other

OPEN

all

MA

all

0

0

67

Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam

OPEN

all

MA

all

243,744,732

241,345,504

2,399,228

0.429

1,028,881

68

Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam

OPEN

all

NE

all

218,019,531

216,577,371

1,442,160

0.247

355,587

2,640,668

2,148,638

492,031

0.178

87,703

589,348

589,348

1,340,569,332

1,186,363,217

154,206,116

0.036

5,621,211

Other minor fleets
TOTAL

See Appendix Table 1 for fleet abbreviations

18

17,442,003

CV

3,033,635

Confidential fleets

20,475,638

Discarded

35

P

P
P

Table 3 The most recent average annual estimates of sea turtle interactions and their associated coefficient of variation (CV) in U.S. MidAtlantic commercial fisheries.

Fishery

Estimate

CV

Years Included

Species*

Reference

Bottom trawl, for fish and scallops

231

0.13

01 Jan 2009-2013

Loggerhead

Murray 2015a

Sea Scallop Dredge

22

0.73

01 Jan 2009-2014

Loggerhead

Murray 2015b

Sink Gillnet

141

0.29

01 Jan 2012-2016

Loggerhead

Murray 2018

Sink Gillnet

29

0.43

01 Jan 2012-2016

Kemp’s ridley

Murray 2018

Sink Gillnet

5

0.71

01 Jan 2012-2016

Leatherback

Murray 2018

Sink Gillnet

22

0.37

01 Jan 2012-2016

Unidentified
hard-shelled

Murray 2018

* Sea day monitoring needs for Kemp’s ridley and leatherback turtles in sink gillnet gear were not projected because of the low encounter rate
of these species.

19

Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) Vessel Selection
If selected to carry an observer am I required to take one?
Yes, as a federal fishery permit holder (see list of permits to left) or Category I or
II fishery participant, you are required to take an observer when selected.
Depending on your permits, category or fishing location this requirement is mandated
under one of the following Acts: the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), the Atlantic
Coastal Fisheries Cooperative Management Act (ACFCMA), the Marine Mammal
Protection Act (MMPA) or the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Is there a limit to how many times a month I can be selected to carry an
observer?
…………….………………
Federal permits requiring
observer coverage:
Atlantic sea scallops
Northeast multispecies
Monkfish
Skates
Atlantic mackerel
Squid
Butterfish
Scup
Black seabass
Bluefish
Spiny dogfish
Atlantic herring
Tilefish
Atlantic deep-sea red crab
Summer flounder
(moratorium permit)
• American lobster
• Atlantic surfclam
• Ocean quahog

•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

……………….……………

…………….………...………
Any questions about the
Northeast Fisheries
Observer Program or
these requirements
should be directed to
Amy Martins, Branch
Chief, Fisheries
Sampling Branch
(508) 495-2266
…………….………………..

No, there are no laws or regulations that limit or specify the number of times a
single vessel may be selected for observer coverage within a given month*.
However, the goal is to collect representative data without overburdening an
individual vessel. Every effort is made to spread coverage out evenly among all
vessels actively fishing in the same fleet (for the purpose of this sea day schedule the
fleet you fish in is defined by the gear type and mesh size you are using as well as
the region you are fishing in i.e. Large mesh (>5.5”) Otter Trawl in New York).
* With the exception of LAGC IFQ vessels (See (50 CFR 648.11(g)(2)(ii))

How does the observer service provider decide how many times a month
to select a vessel for observer coverage?
The NOAA Fisheries, Northeast Fisheries Science Center generates a yearly sea day
schedule for the NEFOP with a given number of days at sea that need to be observed
every month in active fishing fleets. NOAA Fisheries partners with an observer service
provider to complete this sea day schedule. The NEFOP provider attempts to achieve
the days at sea tasked, while still spreading coverage throughout the fleet. For some
fleets, it is not possible to accomplish the number of tasked NEFOP seadays without
covering vessels multiple times per month. An example:
• The NEFOP sea day schedule requires 30 sea days for the month of March
on trawl vessels that are using mesh < 5.5” (small mesh) in a given region.
• There are only 10 day trip vessels in March that are using small mesh trawl in
that region.
• Each vessel will have to be covered 3X to get the 30 days of coverage
needed.
Additionally, if a vessel fishes in multiple fleets on different trips (such as a small
mesh trawl and a large mesh trawl trip) they may be selected for coverage for both
fleets.

How many days are tasked to the fleets I fish in each month?
The NEFOP sea day schedule shows the breakdown of all of the days tasked for
each fleet throughout the year and can be found at: www.nefsc.noaa.gov/fsb/. The
NEFOP can provide a summary of sea days tasked to the fleets you participate in
upon request.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

……………….……………
Your cooperation and
assistance in this
program is greatly
appreciated.

If I’m fishing in state waters am I required to take a federal observer?
Yes, if you hold any of the federal permits listed to the left or are a Category I or II
fishery participant, you are required (under the MSA and MMPA) to take an
observer, once selected, if you are fishing within waters of the United States (defined
in the MSA as “all the States thereof”). It does not matter whether you are fishing in
state or federal waters.

…………….………………

How will I be notified of my selection?
You will be contacted by a NMFS employee, designated contractor or observer
acting on behalf of the Regional Administrator, in person, by telephone, or in writing
and notified that your vessel has been selected to carry an observer. In some
situations you may be selected dockside shortly in advance of a fishing trip.

What authority does NOAA have to place observers on my vessel?
NOAA’s authority to place observers on your vessel is found in a number of federal
statutes, including the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Atlantic Coastal Fisheries
Cooperative Management Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the
Endangered Species Act, and their implementing regulations. For example, federal
Magnuson-Stevens Act regulations at 50 CFR § 648.14 (e) state that:
It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following:
(2) Refuse to carry onboard a vessel an observer or sea sampler if
requested to do so by the Regional Administrator or the Regional
Administrator's designee.
(3) Fail to provide information, notification, accommodations, access, or
reasonable assistance to either a NMFS-approved observer or sea
sampler conducting his or her duties aboard a vessel as specified in §
648.11.

For the full text of these
regulations visit:
……………....………………
Magnuson Stevens Act:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov
/topic/laws-policies
#magnuson-stevens-act

……………....………………
Marine Mammal Protection
Act:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov
/topic/laws-policies#marinemammal-protection-act

……………….……………
Endangered Species Act:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov
/topic/laws-policies
#endangered-species-act

……………....………………
Updated April 2018

Similar requirements are found in regulations implemented under the Marine
Mammal Protection Act (see language below) and the Endangered Species Act. In
addition, as a condition of your federal fishing permit, you must carry an observer
when contacted by a NOAA employee or designated contractor.
50 CFR § 229.7 (c) (1)
(c) Observer requirements for participants in Category I and II fisheries.
(1) If requested by NMFS or by a designated contractor providing observer
services to NMFS, a vessel owner/operator must take aboard an
observer to accompany the vessel on fishing trips.

For a complete list of Category I or II fisheries visit:
https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/final-list-fisheries-2018
It is a violation of federal regulations to fail to carry an

observer on any fishing trip when the vessel has been
selected. A violation may result in the assessment of civil
penalties.
For more information on the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program
please visit our website at: http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/fsb/
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

NEFOP Seaday Schedule,
New Hampshire & Massachusetts 2018
The Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) is tasked by the
Northeast Fisheries Science Center with an annual seaday schedule
for a specific number of federally funded observed days at sea. Here
is an excerpt from the schedule with the days tasked to vessels
fishing out of New Hampshire or Massachusetts for the 2018-2019
SBRM year (April 2018 - March 2019). This excerpt accompanies the
NEFOP Vessel Selection information sheet.
What is a fleet?
A fleet is a group of vessels all fishing using the same gear type and size in a given region.

Seadays assigned to NH & MA fleets for this SBRM year (April 2018 – March 2019)*
2018
2018
Apr - Jun Jul - Sep

Fleet Description

2018
Oct - Dec

2019
Jan- Mar

Change
from 2017

Otter Trawl Small/Medium Mesh (<5.49")

60

183

42

20

43%

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5")

26

48

2

6

31%

Gillnet Large Mesh (5.5"-7.99") (complete)

0

35

4

0

255%

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (complete)

5

2

3

2

80%

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (limited**) MA, NH & RI

45

1

18

30

26%

Ocean Quahog / Surfclam Dredge

41

47

31

32

844%

indicates fewer days tasked than the previous year

indicates more days tasked than the previous year

Providers select vessels
on a monthly schedule to achieve the quarterly assigned seadays (i.e., achieving 1/3 of the quarterly
+
assigned days each month) as effort allows.
For this SBRM year there are 590 seadays tasked specifically to fleets landing in the states of Massachusetts & New
Hampshire. 474 additional seadays are tasked to handline, longline, mid-water trawl, gillnet, purse seine and conch, crab,
hagfish, fish and lobster pot fleets landing in any New England state (ME-RI) including MA & NH. There are a total of 6,885
seadays tasked to Greater Atlantic fleets through the NEFOP Seaday Schedule this year.
An additional 1,178 SBRM/Limited NEFOP seadays will be tasked through the Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS) to vessels
participating in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery. Vessels participating in a northeast multispecies sector or the Atlantic sea scallop
fishery may be subject to additional coverage requirements, not outlined above, via the At-Sea Monitoring or Industry Funded Scallop
programs.

For questions on the NEFOP Seaday Schedule please contact:
Observer Program Area Lead, Sara Weeks: [email protected], (508) 495-2227
*This information is subject to change and is current as of 4/10/2018
** “Limited” trips are those trips where observers collect only limited data on the discarded fish catch. These days can be completed on both state and federally
permitted gillnet vessels under authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

NEFOP Seaday Schedule, Rhode Island 2018
The Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) is tasked by the
Northeast Fisheries Science Center with an annual seaday schedule
for a specific number of federally funded observed days at sea. Here
is an excerpt from the schedule with the days tasked to vessels
fishing out of Rhode Island for the 2018-2019 SBRM year (April 2018 March 2019). This excerpt accompanies the NEFOP Vessel Selection
information sheet.
What is a fleet?
A fleet is a group of vessels all fishing using the same gear type and size in a given region.

Seadays assigned to Rhode Island fleets for this SBRM year (April 2018 – March 2019)*
2018
Apr - Jun

2018
Jul - Sep

2018
Oct - Dec

2019
Jan- Mar

Otter Trawl Small/Medium Mesh (<5.49"), RI

221

306

196

77

43%

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5"), RI

25

43

30

15

28%

Gillnet Large Mesh (5.5"-7.99"), RI

38

46

15

0

106%

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8"), RI

11

3

7

4

78%

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (limited**), MA & RI

45

0

30

27%

Twin Trawl, RI

0

21

18
23

23

25%

Fleet Description

indicates fewer days tasked than the previous year

Change
from 2017

indicates more days tasked than the previous year

Providers select vessels on a monthly schedule to achieve the quarterly assigned seadays (i.e., achieving 1/3 of the quarterly
assigned days each month) as effort allows.
For this SBRM year there are 1104 seadays tasked specifically to fleets landing in the state of Rhode Island. 474 additional
seadays are tasked to gillnet, handline, longline, mid-water trawl, clam dredge, Ruhle trawl, purse seine and conch, crab, hagfish,
fish and lobster pot fleets landing in any New England state (ME-RI) including Rhode Island. There are a total of 6,885 seadays
tasked to Greater Atlantic fleets through the NEFOP Seaday Schedule this year.
An additional 1,178 SBRM/Limited NEFOP seadays will be tasked through the Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS) to vessels participating
in the Northeast Multispecies Fishery. Vessels participating in a northeast multispecies sector or the Atlantic sea scallop fishery may be
subject to additional coverage requirements, not outlined above, via the At-Sea Monitoring or Industry Funded Scallop programs.

For questions on the NEFOP Seaday Schedule please contact:
Observer Program Area Lead, Sara Weeks: [email protected], (508) 495-2227
*This information is subject to change and is current as of 4/10/2018
** “Limited” trips are those trips where observers collect only limited data on the discarded fish catch. These days can be completed on both state and federally permitted
gillnet vessels under authority of the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
U.S. Department of Commerce | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | National Marine Fisheries Service

Fisheries Sampling Branch, Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) Seaday Schedule, April 2018 - March 2019 - Version 1
Quarter 2 - 2018
Allocation
Ref # Source
Fishery Description

Region

Geographic Area

0087 SBRM

Longline

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0083 SBRM

Longline

NE

New England State

0623 SBRM

Handline

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0624 SBRM

Handline

NE

New England State

0453 SBRM

Otter Trawl Small Mesh (<5.5")

MA

CT

0454 SBRM

Otter Trawl Small Mesh (<5.5")

MA

MD

0455 SBRM

Otter Trawl Small Mesh (<5.5")

MA

NC

0456 SBRM

Otter Trawl Small Mesh (<5.5")

MA

NJ

0457 SBRM

Otter Trawl Small Mesh (<5.5")

MA

NY

0458 SBRM

Otter Trawl Small Mesh (<5.5")

MA

VA

0459 SBRM

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5")

MA

CT

0460 SBRM

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5")

MA

MD

0461 SBRM

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5")

MA

NC

0462 SBRM

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5")

MA

NJ

0463 SBRM

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5")

MA

NY

0464 SBRM

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5")

MA

VA

0080 SBRM

Otter Trawl

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0465 SBRM

Otter Trawl Small Mesh (<5.5")

NE

MA

0467 SBRM

Otter Trawl Small Mesh (<5.5")

NE

NH

0468 SBRM

Otter Trawl Small Mesh (<5.5")

NE

RI

0469 SBRM

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5")

NE

MA

0472 SBRM

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5")

NE

RI

0715 SBRM

Twin Trawl

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0716 SBRM

Twin Trawl

NE

RI

0707 SBRM

Shrimp Trawl, Twin, Ocean Waters

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0600 SBRM

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5.5") (complete)

MA

MD

0601 SBRM

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5.5") (complete)

MA

NC

0602 SBRM

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5.5") (complete)

MA

NJ

0603 SBRM

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5.5") (complete)

MA

NY

0604 SBRM

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5.5") (complete)

MA

VA

0605 SBRM

Gillnet Large Mesh (5.5-7.99") (complete)

MA

MD

0606 SBRM

Gillnet Large Mesh (5.5-7.99") (complete)

MA

NC

0607 SBRM

Gillnet Large Mesh (5.5-7.99") (complete)

MA

NJ

0608 SBRM

Gillnet Large Mesh (5.5-7.99") (complete)

MA

NY

0609 SBRM

Gillnet Large Mesh (5.5-7.99") (complete)

MA

VA

0610 SBRM

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (complete)

MA

CT

0611 SBRM

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (complete)

MA

MD

0612 SBRM

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (complete)

MA

NJ

0613 SBRM

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (complete)

MA

NY

0614 SBRM

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (complete)

MA

VA

0736 SBRM

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5") (complete)

NE

New England State

0615 SBRM

Gillnet Large Mesh (5.5-7.99") (complete)

NE

MA

0616 SBRM

Gillnet Large Mesh (5.5-7.99") (complete)

NE

RI

0620 SBRM

Gillnet Large Mesh (5.5-7.99") (complete)

NE

NH

0564 SBRM

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (complete)

NE

NH

0617 SBRM

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (complete)

NE

MA

0618 SBRM

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (complete)

NE

RI

0069 SBRM

Purse Seine

NE

New England State

0079 SBRM

Mid-Water Pair & Single Trawl,Access Area

NE

New England State

APR 2018
Tasked

MAY 2018
Tasked

21
4
20
3
30
1
6
69
125
9
7
2
30
74
27
9
406
60
0
221
26
25
13
0
0
1
5
29
15
39
10
1
21
7
5
3
2
24
40
5
4
0
38
0
0
5
11
6
14

JUN 2018
Tasked

Quarter 3 - 2018
JUL 2018
Tasked

AUG 2018
Tasked

21
35
34
3
64
0
2
20
225
7
20
21
3
140
55
7
598
145
38
306
48
43
13
21
39
11
6
36
11
58
0
0
10
16
0
0
0
0
2
0
4
33
46
2
1
1
3
6
14

SEP 2018
Tasked

Quarter 4 - 2018
OCT 2018
Tasked

NOV 2018
Tasked

21
9
17
3
35
2
3
55
92
13
3
3
12
50
16
25
318
34
8
196
2
30
16
23
115
4
52
22
3
66
13
0
42
23
12
1
0
27
10
0
0
4
15
0
1
2
7
6
15

DEC 2018
Tasked

Quarter 1 - 2019
JAN 2019
Tasked

FEB 2019
Tasked

21
0
4
2
12
4
10
61
16
13
2
0
27
21
8
28
214
20
0
77
6
15
16
23
54
0
90
2
0
78
23
7
9
0
18
1
1
18
1
3
0
0
0
0
0
2
4
0
0

MAR 2019
Total Tasked
Tasked
84
48
75
11
141
7
21
205
458
42
32
26
72
285
106
69
1536
259
46
800
82
113
58
67
208
16
153
89
29
241
46
8
82
46
35
5
3
69
53
8
8
37
99
2
2
10
25
18
43

0076 SBRM

Mid-Water Pair & Single Trawl

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0078 SBRM

Mid-Water Pair & Single Trawl

NE

New England State

0569 SBRM

Pot & Trap, Fish

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0565 SBRM

Pot & Trap, Fish

NE

New England State

0566 SBRM

Pot & Trap, Conch

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0518 SBRM

Pot & Trap, Conch

NE

New England State

0570 SBRM

Pot & Trap, Hagfish

NE

New England State

0567 SBRM

Pot & Trap, Lobster

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0572 SBRM

Pot & Trap, Lobster

NE

New England State

0573 SBRM

Pot & Trap, Crab

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0575 SBRM

Pot & Trap, Crab

NE

New England State

0713 SBRM

Ocean Quahog/Surfclam Dredge

MA

Mid-Atlantic State

0703 SBRM

Ocean Quahog/Surfclam Dredge

NE

MA
SBRM Subtotal

0509 MMPA

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (limited)

NE

S of Cape Cod, MA & RI

22

0
11
3
3
3
3
31
4
4
10
18
6
41

0
11
3
3
3
3
32
4
4
7
21
6
47

0
11
3
3
3
3
0
4
4
7
21
6
31

16
11
3
0
3
0
31
4
5
6
20
6
32

151

1610

2312

1522

1048

6492

23

0

0

0

0

4

6

8

10

9

16
44
12
9
12
9
94
16
17
30
80
24

11

93

0513 MMPA

Gillnet Extra Large Mesh (>=8") (limited)

NE

N of Cape Cod, NH

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

0717 MMPA

Gillnet (limited), Bay

MA

Accomack County, VA

1

1

0

1

2

1

1

1

0

0

0

1

9

0718 MMPA

Gillnet (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

Accomack County, VA

5

4

0

1

1

2

1

1

0

1

1

1

18

0719 MMPA

Gillnet (limited), Bay

MA

Hampton County, VA

1

2

1

1

1

1

2

2

1

0

1

3

16

0720 MMPA

Gillnet (limited), Bay

MA

Mathews County, VA

1

1

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

6

0721 MMPA

Gillnet (limited), Bay

MA

Northhampton County, VA

1

1

0

0

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

7

0722 MMPA

Gillnet (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

Northhampton County, VA

1

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

1

0

0

0

4

0723 MMPA

Gillnet (limited), Bay

MA

City of Virginia Beach, VA

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

2

1

0

0

1

6

0724 MMPA

Gillnet (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

City of Virginia Beach, VA

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

2

2

2

2

10

0725 MMPA

Gillnet (limited), Bay

MA

York County, VA

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

2

4

0726 MMPA

Gillnet Large Mesh (>=5") (limited), Ocean 3-200nm

MA

Dare County, NC

0

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

2

1

1

6

0727 MMPA

Gillnet Large Mesh (>=5") (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

Dare County, NC

1

2

1

1

0

1

2

5

2

6

4

2

27

0728 MMPA

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5") (limited), Ocean 3-200nm

MA

Dare County, NC

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

3

5

2

4

8

24

0729 MMPA

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5") (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

Dare County, NC

2

6

1

2

1

6

2

6

7

7

3

9

52

0730 MMPA

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5") (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

Hyde County, NC

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

1

10

0731 MMPA

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5") (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

Brunswick County, NC

1

1

0

0

0

0

2

2

2

0

1

1

10

0732 MMPA

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5") (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

Carteret County, NC

3

3

1

1

6

6

4

8

3

1

1

1

38

0733 MMPA

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5") (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

New Hanover County, NC

2

1

0

0

0

1

2

1

1

1

1

1

11

0734 MMPA

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5") (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

Onslow County, NC

5

1

0

0

0

1

1

9

3

0

0

3

23

0735 MMPA

Gillnet Small Mesh (<5") (limited), Ocean 0-3nm

MA

Pender County, NC

2

1

1

2

1

1

2

6

1

0

0

1

18

MMPA Subtotal

50

49

6

13

17

25

27

55

38

32

29

52

393

NY Bight/Long Island Sound

14
40
55
33
8
13
15

24
27
60
36
8
17
17

13
29
26
30
4
7
6

6
15
12
8
0
3
2

New York Agreement Subtotal

178

189

115

46

528

Total

1893

2556

1757

1207

7413

0800 NYA

Gillnet Small/Medium Mesh (<5.5") (limited)

MA

NY Bight/Long Island Sound

0801 NYA

Gillnet Large/Extra Large Mesh (>=5.5") (limited)

MA

NY Bight/Long Island Sound

0802 NYA

Otter Trawl Small/Medium Mesh (<5.5")

MA

NY Bight/Long Island Sound

0803 NYA

Otter Trawl Large Mesh (>=5.5")

MA

NY Bight/Long Island Sound

0804 NYA

Pot & Trap, Lobster

MA

NY Bight/Long Island Sound

0805 NYA

Pot & Trap, Conch

MA

NY Bight/Long Island Sound

0806 NYA

Pot & Trap, Fish

MA

Version 1 released on April 24, 2018

57
111
153
107
20
40
40