Download:
pdf |
pdfNOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-301
2023 Standardized Bycatch Reporting
Methodology Annual Discard Report
with Observer Sea Day Allocation
US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
July 2023
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-301
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.
2023 Standardized Bycatch Reporting
Methodology Annual Discard Report
with Observer Sea Day Allocation
By the Northeast Fisheries Science Center1
and the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office2
1NOAA
National Marine Fisheries Service
166 Water Street
Woods Hole, MA 02543
2NOAA
National Marine Fisheries Service
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
US DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service
Northeast Fisheries Science Center
Woods Hole, Massachusetts
July 2023
Editorial Notes
Information Quality Act Compliance: In accordance with section 515 of Public Law 106-554, the
Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) completed both technical and policy reviews for this report.
These predissemination reviews are on file at the NEFSC Editorial Office.
Species Names: The NEFSC Editorial Office’s policy on the use of species names in all technical
communications is generally to follow the American Fisheries Society’s lists of scientific and common
names for fishes, mollusks, and decapod crustaceans and to follow the Society for Marine Mammalogy's
guidance on scientific and common names for marine mammals. Exceptions to this policy occur when there
are subsequent compelling revisions in the classifications of species, resulting in changes in the names of
species.
Statistical Terms: The NEFSC Editorial Office’s policy on the use of statistical terms in all technical
communications is generally to follow the International Standards Organization’s handbook of statistical
methods.
Citation: Northeast Fisheries Science Center. 2023. 2023 Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology
Annual Discard Report with Observer Sea Day Allocation. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-301.
33 p.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iv
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations .............................................................................................. v
Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................... vi
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1
Summary of Observer Coverage ..................................................................................................... 2
Summary of Discard Estimates ....................................................................................................... 2
Summary of Sea Days Needed ....................................................................................................... 2
Summary of Funding available for April 2023 through March 2024 ............................................. 5
Prioritization Trigger and Details of the Allocation of Sea Days to Fleets .................................... 8
Discussion.. ................................................................................................................................... 14
References Cited ........................................................................................................................... 17
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. A list of the 14 fish and invertebrate species groups and 1 species of sea turtle (in bold),
with species group abbreviations in parentheses and scientific names in italics. The species
that compose these groups correspond to the 13 federal fishery management plans
implemented in the waters off the northeastern United States. ........................................... 19
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 (SE) of the estimated
discards (live lb) for 14 Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) species
groups combined, by fleet, based on July 2021 through June 2022 data............................. 20
Table 3. The most recent average annual estimates and 5 year pooled estimates of sea turtle
(Loggerhead, Kemp’s ridley, Leatherback, and Green) interactions and their associated
coefficient of variation (CV) in US commercial fisheries. .................................................. 22
Table 4. The number of sea days needed to achieve a 30% coefficient of variation of the discard
estimate for each of the 14 fish and invertebrate species groups, the number of pilot sea
days, the number of minimum pilot sea days, and the maximum number of sea days needed
for each fleet (2023 Sea Days Needed) for fish and invertebrate species groups based on
July 2021 through June 2022 data ....................................................................................... 23
Table 5. The number of sea days needed to monitor fish/invertebrates (FISH), loggerhead turtles
(TURS), combined species groups (COMBINED) by fleet (Steps 1 through 5); the number
of funded sea days for April 2023 through March 2024 (Steps 6 and 7); and the differences
between needed and funded days (Step 8) ........................................................................... 25
Table 6. The 2023 sea days needed (COMBINED; Step 5) and the information used in the
penultimate approach to prioritize sea days to fleets for agency-funded days that are
applicable to the prioritization process (Steps 9.1 through 9.5). ......................................... 28
Table 7. The 2023 sea days needed to monitor the combined species groups (COMBINED),
prioritized days (Step 9.5), nonprioritized days (Step 10), industry-funded scallop days
(Step 11), and observer sea days allocated for April 2023 through March 2024 (Step 12) by
fleet. ..................................................................................................................................... 30
Appendix Table 1. Stratification abbreviations used for 2023 fleets............................................ 33
iv
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
AA = access area
ASM = At-Sea Monitoring Program
CI = confidence interval
CV = coefficient of variation
EM = electronic monitoring
EPU = Ecological Production Unit
ESA = Endangered Species Act
FMP = fishery management plan
FY = fiscal year
GEN = general category
IFS = Industry Funded Scallop Program
IFQ = individual fishing quota
LAGC = limited access general category
lg = large mesh
LIM = limited access category
MA = Mid-Atlantic
MAFMC = Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
MMPA = Marine Mammal Protection Act
MPC = minimum pilot coverage
MREM = maximized retention electronic monitoring
NE = New England
NEFMC = New England Fishery Management Council
NEFOP = Northeast Fisheries Observer Program
NEFSC = Northeast Fisheries Science Center
NGOM = Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area
NMFS = National Marine Fisheries Service
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 dredges
US = United States
VTR = Vessel Trip Report
xlg = extra large mesh
v
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This document contains a compilation of the information to meet the 2023 Standardized
Bycatch Reporting Methodology (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 McAfee and Wigley 2023, along with a description of the data
sources, methods, results, and discussion. Similarly, for sea turtles, further information can be
found in Murray 2012, 2020, and 2023.
The sea days needed to monitor the 15 SBRM species groups (14 fish/invertebrates species
groups and 1 sea turtle species) for April 2023 through March 2024 are based on July 2021 through
June 2022 data. Of the 6,926 sea days, 5,293 sea days are needed for agency-funded fleets, and
1,633 sea days are needed for industry-funded scallop fleets.
The funds available to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Fisheries Monitoring and
Operations Branch in fiscal year (FY) 2023 are estimated to provide support for 2,099 days, and
1,835 days are carried over (i.e., bought ahead) from FY2022 funds for a total of 3,934 days (3,373
prioritized days + 561 nonprioritized days) for April 2023 through March 2024. Based upon the
2023 observer set-aside compensation rate analysis for the Industry Funded Scallop Program, there
is industry funding for 1,696 days. Hence, 5,630 days are available for observer coverage for April
2023 through March 2024.
Within the agency-funded fleets and prioritization-applicable funding, a shortfall of 1,920
(5,293 – 3,373) days is expected. The 2023 funding shortfall triggers the SBRM prioritization
process; the penultimate approach is utilized with a portion of the agency funds. Practical
limitations prevent the observer program from covering 63 sea days associated with 6 fleets. These
63 sea days have been reallocated to the last fleet impacted by the prioritization process. 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 April 2023 through March 2024.
There is a pending SBRM framework action to expand the sampling frame for the MidAtlantic and New England lobster pot fleets. When the framework action is implemented, then
beginning in the calendar quarter following the implementation date, all active federal lobster
vessels may be eligible for selection to take an observer, regardless of whether they are required
to submit Vessel Trip Reports (VTR). Additionally, the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
has published a proposed rule to implement a requirement for electronic VTR submissions for all
vessels in the lobster industry. Either scenario would expand the sampling frame for lobster pot
fleets once they go into effect.
vi
INTRODUCTION
The Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) Omnibus Amendment was
implemented in February 2008 (NEFMC, MAFMC, NMFS 2007; NMFS 2008) to address the
requirements of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act to include
standardized bycatch reporting methodology in all of the New England Fishery Management
Council (NEFMC) and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (MAFMC) federal fishery
management plans (FMPs). A revised SBRM Omnibus Amendment was approved in March 2015,
and a final rule was implemented in July 2015 (NEFMC, MAFMC, NMFS 2015).
The SBRM amendment requires an annual discard report utilizing information obtained
from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s (NEFSC) Fisheries Monitoring and Operations
Branch’s (formerly known as the Fisheries Sampling Branch) observer programs (Northeast
Fisheries Observer Program [NEFOP] and Industry Funded Scallop [IFS] Program) for 14
federally managed species groups and sea turtles (Table 1) in the waters of the northeastern United
States (US). 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 [the] 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, MAFMC, NMFS
2015, pages 237-238).
Each year, discard estimates and variability are derived by using observer data from the
prior year to inform observer coverage needs for the upcoming year. For fish and invertebrate
species groups, several of the required annual discard report elements (discards and precision by
fleet) can be found in McAfee and Wigley 2023, along with a description of the data sources,
methods, results, and discussion. Similarly, for sea turtles, further information can be found in
Murray 2012, 2020, and 2023. This report describes the sea days needed to monitor the 15 SBRM
species groups (14 fish/invertebrates species groups 1 and 1 sea turtle species; Table 1), funding
available for observer coverage, and the numbers of sea days allocated by fleet 2 (where a fleet
represents gear type, access area, trip category, region, and mesh group combinations) for April
2023 through March 2024. Thus, this document, together with McAfee and Wigley 2023 and
Murray 2020 and 2023, compose the information to meet the 2023 SBRM annual discard report
requirements.
1
On August 4, 2020 Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) was integrated into the MAFMC Mackerel, Squid,
Butterfish fishery management plan via Amendment 21. The 2022 SBRM species group for squid, butterfish and
mackerel was expanded to include Atlantic chub mackerel (Table 1). Since the full SBRM analysis was not
conducted in 2022, the 2023 SBRM analysis is the first to include Atlantic chub mackerel.
2
Fleets are synonymous with “fishing modes.”
1
SUMMARY OF OBSERVER COVERAGE
A total of 1,576 trips (4,561 days) were observed from July 2021 through June 2022. When
these trips were stratified by fleet and quarter, some trips were partitioned between fleets resulting
in 1,690 trips (4,790 days). See Tables 2 and 3 in McAfee and Wigley 2023 for a summary of the
number of observed trips and industry Vessel Trip Reports (VTR) trips by fleet and calendar
quarter and a summary of the number of observed sea days and industry sea days by fleet and
calendar quarter, respectively. There were 64 fleets uniquely identified in the July 2021 through
June 2022 data. Based upon the industry activity during this time period, 6 new fleets were added
to the collection analyzed: Mid-Atlantic (MA) large mesh belly panel large mesh otter trawl (Row
9), New England (NE) large mesh belly panel large mesh otter trawl (Row 11), NE beach haul
seine (Row 27), NE eel pots and traps (Row 50), NE small mesh beam trawl (Row 57), and MA
small mesh Scottish seine (Row 59).
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, 67.9%
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 from
July 2021 through June 2022, see Table 4 in McAfee and Wigley 2023.
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 by using data collected
from July 2021 through June 2022 (McAfee and Wigley 2023). Based upon that discard estimation
analysis, an estimated 55,824 mt (123,070,619 lb) of federally regulated species were discarded
from nonconfidential fleets (Table 2). Fleet stratification abbreviations used in this report are
described in Appendix Table 1. For summaries by fleet and SBRM species group and summaries
by fleet and individual species that compose these 14 species groups, see Tables 5A and 5B in
McAfee and Wigley 2023.The most recent average annual estimates of sea turtle interactions and
CVs in US commercial fisheries are listed in Table 3. Methods to estimate sea day needs for the
different gear types can be found in either Murray (2020) or Murray (2023).
SUMMARY OF SEA DAYS NEEDED
For fish/invertebrate species groups, the number of sea days needed to achieve a 30% CV
of total discards for each species group was derived for 64 fleets by using data collected from July
2021 through June 2022 (McAfee and Wigley 2023). Based on that sample size analysis, a total
of 7,238 sea days would be needed for the 14 fish and invertebrate species groups. Table 4 presents
the number of sea days needed for each of the 14 species groups, number of pilot coverage 3 days,
and number of minimum pilot days. Table 4 and Step 1 in Table 5 present the sea days needed by
3
Pilot coverage is the minimum level of observer coverage necessary to acquire bycatch information with which to
calculate variance estimates that can then be used to further define the level of sampling needed (NMFS 2004).
2
fleet. The number of needed sea days for fish/invertebrate species groups is further adjusted as
described below.
In the McAfee and Wigley 2023 analysis, there were 17 “erroneous” fleets identified that
resulted from either VTR misreporting the gear type used (e.g., scallop trawl, beam trawl), fishing
outside the regulations (by using smaller mesh size than allowed), or inconsistent gear codes
between data collection systems (e.g., otter trawl, other; pots and trap, other; dredge, other; and
shrimp trawl). Additionally, one fleet was removed because it is allowed under an exempted
fishing permit (fishing outside standard fishing behavior) to support the development of
maximized retention electronic monitoring (MREM) under Amendment 23. The 541 sea days
associated with these fleets (composed of 725 VTR trips for July 2021 through June 2022) have
been set to zero (Table 5, Step 2, gray and tan shaded cells). When this adjustment is made, 6,697
days total are needed to monitor 14 fish/invertebrate species groups in 46 fleets (Table 5, Step 2).
The analysis of sea turtle bycatch in MA bottom trawl gear from 2014-2018 was used to
project sea day monitoring needs for turtles in 2023 (Murray 2020). Interaction rates for each turtle
species were estimated with stratified ratio estimators, where rates were stratified by Ecological
Production Unit (EPU; Georges Bank and Mid-Atlantic), latitude zone, season, and depth. In the
Mid-Atlantic region, a total of 571 loggerhead (Caretta caretta, CV = 0.29, 95% confidence
interval [CI] = 318-997), 46 Kemp’s ridley (Lepidochelys kempii, CV = 0.45, 95% CI = 10-88),
16 green (Chelonia mydas, CV = 0.73, 95% CI = 0-44), and 20 leatherback (Dermochelys
coriacea, CV = 0.72, 95% CI = 0-50) turtle interactions were estimated to have occurred in bottom
trawl gear over the 5 year period. On Georges Bank, 12 loggerheads (CV = 0.70, 95% CI = 0-31)
and 6 leatherback (CV = 1.0, 95% CI = 0-20) interactions were estimated to have occurred (Table
3).
Prior to estimating observer coverage needs for future fishing years, the probability of
encountering each turtle species in either the Georges Bank or Mid-Atlantic region was estimated
by using results of this analysis. This process was recommended for sea turtles to prevent SBRM
sea day needs in some fleets from being driven by species with a low probability of encounter with
the fishing gear (Hogan et al. 2019). As a result, monitoring levels were not estimated for Kemp’s
ridley, leatherback, or green turtles in the updated analysis, nor for loggerheads on Georges Bank,
because there was <50% probability of observing 5 or more turtles over 800 trips in a year.
Observer coverage needs were estimated for loggerheads in the Mid-Atlantic.
The results of Murray 2020 indicate that 2,668 sea days are needed annually to monitor
loggerhead interactions with 30% precision across bottom trawl fleets operating in the MidAtlantic EPU (see text table given below). However, allocating 2,668 days to MA 4 SBRM trawl
fleets will overshoot the needed number of days for turtles because some portion of the effort in
the Mid-Atlantic EPU is composed of NE fleets. To avoid this, we removed the proportion of sea
days from the needed number of days allocated for turtles to account for the overlap of spatial
strata when fish and sea turtle sea days are merged. We followed the same approach used in
NEFSC and GARFO 2020.
According to VTR data from 2014-2018, approximately 67% of NE small mesh otter trawl
effort (in terms of days fished) and 10% of NE large mesh otter trawl effort occurred in the Mid-
4
The sampling frame for SBRM “Mid-Atlantic” fleets is composed of vessels departing from Connecticut to North
Carolina; however, vessels operating in the Mid-Atlantic EPU depart from Massachusetts to North Carolina, based
on the turtle analysis.
3
Atlantic EPU 5. We applied these proportions to the number of days needed to monitor fish in each
of the NE otter trawl fleets (892 and 782 days in the NE small mesh and large mesh otter fleets,
respectively; Table 5, Step 2, Rows 7 and 8), for a total of 676 days. We then removed 676 days
from the coverage needed for turtles, so that days allocated for turtles in the Mid-Atlantic were
reduced to 1,992 days (see text table given below and Table 5). We anticipate that the actual
amount of observer effort in the Mid-Atlantic EPU is the adjusted amount for turtles plus the
amount of effort operating there from NE fleets. The amount of MA effort fishing in the Northeast
EPUs was small (<5% of effort), so we did not make any adjustments in the other direction (i.e.,
removing MA effort from the NE fish days).
The analysis to determine sea day needs for turtles in gillnet fleets was updated in Murray
2023. The updated analysis expanded the existing study region to include the Gulf of Maine EPU
in addition to the Georges Bank and Mid-Atlantic EPUs. Over 800 trips, there was only a 10%
estimated probability of observing 5 or greater loggerhead turtles and even lower probabilities for
green, Kemp’s ridley, and leatherback turtles (Murray 2023). Since the 10% estimated probability
of observing 5 or more loggerhead turtles is lower than the established 50% threshold required by
SBRM, sea days to monitor turtles were set to zero (Table 5; Step 3), and needed sea days will be
driven by other species groups instead of turtles for the 6 impacted gillnet fleets (Rows 30-35).
Estimates of sea day needs for turtles are revised approximately every 5 years when new bycatch
estimates are published for a particular gear type.
Similar to 2022, coverage needs for turtles on vessels using scallop dredge gear in the MidAtlantic were not estimated. Since May 2013, the use of turtle deflector dredges (TDDs) with chain
mats have been required on scallop dredges in times and areas where loggerhead turtles are known
to be most common. These modifications are intended to reduce those interactions in which
animals are landed or observed from the deck, although other “unobservable” interactions may
still be occurring (i.e., those in which animals escape from the gear or come in contact with the
gear but are not captured and brought to the surface where they can be observed; Warden and
Murray 2011). Observer coverage levels in the MA scallop dredge fleets in 2023 will be driven by
other species groups, so some level of coverage will exist to monitor the effectiveness of TDDs
and chain mats in reducing observable interactions and to help monitor turtle interactions outside
of gear regulated times and areas.
The numbers of sea days needed to achieve a 30% CV associated with the Gulf of Maine,
Georges Bank, and Mid-Atlantic turtle gear types and fish/invertebrate fleets are given below and
in Table 5, Steps 2 and 3.
5
Other bases for these percentages were explored, including a 3 year average from 2016-2018, or the latest year’s
effort (2018). In both scenarios the percentages differed by <5%, so the 2014-2018 percentages were used to adjust
turtle days because these years were the basis of the sea day analysis.
4
Turtle Gear Types and Fish/Invertebrate Fleets
MA Otter Trawl, MA Scallop Trawl, MA Ruhle
Trawl, MA Other Otter Trawl Rows 5, 6, 12, 16,
17, 23, and 24
MA and NE Gillnet Rows 30-35
Sea Days Needed
Fish/Invertebrate
Loggerhead Turtles
Species Groups
2,668 (reduced to
1,992)
1,763
0
709
The numbers of sea days needed for the combined fish/invertebrate and turtle species groups were
derived as follows:
● If the sum of the sea days needed for fish/invertebrate species groups of the
corresponding fish/invertebrate fleets exceeded the sea days needed for the turtle
gear type, then the sea days needed for fish/invertebrate was used. To support the
penultimate prioritization approach, the sea days needed for turtles are apportioned
to the corresponding fish/invertebrate fleets by using the proportion of
fish/invertebrate sea days within the turtle gear type (Table 5, Step 4).
● If the number of sea days needed for turtles for the gear type exceeded the sum of
the sea days needed for fish/invertebrate groups of the corresponding
fish/invertebrate fleets, then the difference between the sea days needed for turtles
and fish were distributed according to the proportion of VTR sea days corresponding
to fish/invertebrate fleets and added to the days needed for fish/invertebrate groups,
by fleet (Table 5, Step 4). The number of VTR sea days by fleet is taken from Table
3 in McAfee and Wigley 2023 and reflects industry activity from July 2021 through
June 2022.
A total of 6,926 sea days is needed for fish/invertebrates and loggerhead turtles (COMBINED;
Table 5, Step 5) for April 2023 through March 2024. Of the 6,926 sea days, 5,293 sea days are
needed for agency-funded fleets (i.e., funded by National Marine Fisheries Service [NMFS]), and
1,633 sea days are needed for industry-funded scallop fleets (Table 5, Step 6).
SUMMARY OF FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR APRIL 2023
THROUGH MARCH 2024
The funds available to the NEFSC’s Fisheries Monitoring and Operations Branch in fiscal
year (FY) 2023 are estimated to provide support for 2,099 days. There are also 456 days carried
over (i.e., bought ahead) from FY2022 funds 6 and 1,379 prioritized days from obligated but not
spent FY2022 funds after all carryover days were purchased. A total of 3,934 (2,099 + 456 + 1,379)
6
The best estimate of the FY2022 carryover days is 456 days (320 prioritized carryover days and 136 MMPA
carryover days).
5
agency-funded days are available for April 2023 through March 2024. Based upon an observer
set-aside compensation rate analysis for the Industry Funded Scallop Program, there is industry
funding for 1,696 days for scallop fleets. Hence, 5,630 (3,934 + 1,696) days are available for
observer coverage for April 2023 through March 2024.
Below is a summary of the 2 funding source categories: agency-funded and industryfunded. Within the agency-funded category, there are 7 subcategories: Atlantic Coast Observers,
National Catch Share Program, National Observer Program, Northeast Fisheries Observers,
Marine Mammal Protection Act, Endangered Species Act (ESA) Annual Determination, and
Reducing Bycatch.
● Agency-funded: The funding sources for the 3,934 agency-funded sea days include:
Atlantic Coast Observers (477 days); Northeast Fisheries Observers (296 days); National
Observer Program (735 days); Reducing Bycatch (54 days); National Catch Share
Program (90 days); Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, and Other Marine Species (23 days);
FY2022 obligated prioritized days (1,379 days) that were carried over/brought ahead; and
FY2022 unachieved prioritized days (320 days) that were carried over/brought ahead.
These combined sources fund the sea days for prioritization (3,373 days; Table 5, Step
7) 7. In addition, there is funding from the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 380
days), the FY2022 carryover/bought ahead days (136 days), and the ESA Annual
Determination provision (45 days) to collectively fund the sea days to monitor protected
species (561 additional days; Table 5, Step 7).
o 561 agency-funded days are applicable to protected species 8 only.
▪
350 MMPA days are associated with trips having sampling protocols that are
specific to protected species (marine mammals, sea turtles, ESA listed fish species)
and are not applicable for non-ESA listed fish and invertebrates. Owing to the
extra demands of monitoring protected species, information on finfish and
shellfish discards is not collected on these trips. However, these days will provide
observer coverage for sea turtles and ESA-listed fish species above that which is
allocated for all species.
▪
Funding equivalent to 166 days will be in support of observer data analysis.
▪
45 days are associated with the ESA Annual Determination provision to monitor
Mid-Atlantic state waters gillnet trips for sea turtle interactions. These trips follow
the same sampling protocol as MMPA trips.
o 3,373 (3,934 – 561) agency-funded days are applicable for all species.
7
Individual funding sources for agency-funded, prioritized sea days described in text are rounded to the nearest sea
day equivalent, which causes their sum to differ from the aggregate sea day total in Table 5, Step 7.
8
In this document, protected species refers to marine mammals, sea turtles, and ESA-listed fish.
6
▪
3,373 days are subject to the prioritization process across all fleets. The
prioritization approach is described in the next section and given in Table 6.
▪
No sea days have been set aside to support discovery days to address emerging
questions of scientific and management interest as the year progresses.
o There is a single provider for NEFOP sea days, and consequently, the projected costs
(i.e., at-sea costs based on realized costs in FY23) are confidential. An estimated rate
for shoreside infrastructure that includes fixed and variable costs for operations,
training, and data processing is $512/day.
● Industry-funded: The number of industry-funded sea days available for scallop fleets is
determined by taking 1% of the total acceptable biological catch/annual catch limit set for
the year. The IFS provides vessels with additional landings to help defray the costs of
carrying an observer (i.e., the compensation rate). The sale of the additional scallops
allocated to each boat supplies the funding for the at-sea costs of observer coverage. Based
upon projected landings and expected prices, the IFS generates funds in support of discard
monitoring of the scallop fleets. A compensation rate analysis was undertaken to support
observer coverage of the 9 industry-funded scallop fleets (Rows 12, and 38-45; Table 5).
For the 2023 scallop fishing year (April 2023 through March 2024), the NE open area
limited access trips will be observed at 12.5% and MA open area limited access trips will
be observed at 9%. The observer compensation rate in the Area II Access Area is 250
lb/day for limited access vessels, and the observer coverage rate will be 10.5%. There are
2 trips allocated in Area II (24,000 lb/full time vessel) with a maximum possession limit
per trip of 12,000 lb for limited access vessels. The limited access general category
(LAGC) individual fishing quota (IFQ) fleet is allocated a total of 1,256,633 lb, with 571
access area trips available to use either in the Area II or Nantucket Lightship-North
Scallop Rotational Areas. For LAGC IFQ vessels, the open area possession limit is 600
lb and the access area possession limit is 800 lb. The observer coverage rate for LAGC
IFQ vessels in the MA open area will be 4.0% and 17.8% in the GB open area. LAGC
IFQ access area trips will be covered at 19.0%. The observer compensation rate for LAGC
IFQ vessels is 250 lb/trip. The overall Northern Gulf of Maine Scallop Management Area
(NGOM) total allowable catch for 2023 is 380,855 lb with a trip possession limit of 200
lb/day. The observer compensation rate for the NGOM is125 lb/day at a target coverage
rate of 2.7% and is only open to LAGC IFQ and LAGC NGOM permitted vessels in 2023
along with limited research set-aside compensation fishing.
o Based upon the compensation rate analysis and proposed Framework 36 allocations,
a total of 1,696 sea days can be funded: 1,056 days for Open Areas, 68 days for MA
Access Areas, and 572 days in the NE Access Areas, which includes 51 days for the
NGOM (Table 7).
▪
The industry-funded schedule runs April through March
▪
Bulletins describing the 2023 set-aside compensation rate calculations and scallop
management measure (Framework 36) are available online.
7
o Of the 1,056 days for the Open Areas, there are 150 days for Limited Access General
Category fleets (Rows 12, 42, and 43; Table 7) and 906 days for Limited Access fleets
(Rows 44 and 45; Table 7).
o Coverage of the 9 fleets depends on industry activity among these fleets for April 2023
through March 2024; the sea days represent the maximum coverage (i.e., caps).
o Projected costs: the average cost to industry for the at-sea portion is $733/day for
industry-funded scallop fleets. Additional agency funds are needed for training and
certification of observers and data processing.
Below is a summary of sea days based on the agency budget and the compensation rate analysis
by funding source for April 2023 through March 2024.
Funding Source
Agency-funded total
Agency-funded applicable to all species (prioritized days)
Agency-funded applicable to protected species only (nonprioritized days)
Industry-funded scallop total applicable to all species
Total
Sea Days
3,934
3,373
561
1,696
5,630
PRIORITIZATION TRIGGER AND DETAILS OF THE
ALLOCATION OF SEA DAYS TO FLEETS
Within the agency-funded fleets and prioritization-applicable funding, a funding shortfall
of 1,920 (5,293 – 3,373) days is expected (Table 5). The 2023 funding shortfall triggers the SBRM
prioritization approach; the prioritization approach is utilized with a portion of the agency funds.
The following describes the steps taken to allocate the 5,630 funded sea days (Tables 5-7).
Step 1. Derive the number of sea days needed for the 14 fish/invertebrate species groups (Table 5;
the importance filter has been applied, see McAfee and Wigley 2023 for the methods used
in the sample size analyses).
Step 2. Apply the sea day adjustments to 17 “erroneous” fleets (Rows 9, 16-19, 22-28, 47, 50, 57,
58, and 61). Additionally, Row 20 has been removed because this fleet is allowed under
an exempted fishing permit (fishing outside standard fishing behavior) to support the
development of MREM under Amendment 23 (Table 5). A total of 6,697 days is needed
for fish/invertebrate species group across 46 fleets (37 agency-funded fleets and 9 industryfunded scallop fleets; Table 5).
Step 3. Derive the number of sea days needed for sea turtles (Table 5; see Murray 2012, 2020,
2023 for the methods used in sample size analyses).
8
A total of 2,668 sea days is needed annually to monitor loggerhead (TURS) interactions
with 30% precision across bottom trawl fleets operating in the MA EPU (Murray 2020).
The 2,668 sea days were adjusted to account for the overlap of spatial strata when fish and
sea turtle sea days are merged. The proportion of NE fishing effort in the Mid-Atlantic
EPU was estimated by using the VTR data from 2014-2018. Approximately 67% of NE
small mesh otter trawl effort and 10% of NE large mesh otter trawl effort (in terms of days
fished) occurred in the Mid- Atlantic EPU. These proportions were applied to the number
of days needed to monitor fish in each of the New England otter trawl fleets (892 and 782
days in the NE small mesh [Row 7] and large mesh [Row 8] otter fleets, respectively (Table
5) yielding a total of 676 ([0.67 * 892] + [0.10 * 782]) days.
After adjusting, the total number of days needed to monitor loggerhead turtles in the MA
trawl fleets is 1,992 days (2,668 – 676). The 1,992 days will be integrated with sea days
needed for fish in the SBRM MA trawl fleets.
Step 4. To integrate the monitoring needs of fish/invertebrates and sea turtles and to support the
penultimate prioritization approach, derive the number of sea days needed for loggerhead
turtles for each of the fish/invertebrate fleets associated with the turtle gear types (Table
5).
a. Summarize the number of VTR sea days corresponding to each fish/invertebrate fleet
(see Table 3 in McAfee and Wigley 2023). The VTR sea days associated with the 17
“erroneous” fleets are given but not used (Table 5, Step 4a, gray shaded cells).
b. Derive the percentage of VTR sea days for each fish/invertebrate fleet within the turtle
gear type. For each fish/invertebrate fleet associated with the turtle gear type, divide
the VTR sea days by the sum of the VTR sea days for the gear type.
c. Derive the percentage of sea days needed for fish/invertebrate for each fish/invertebrate
fleet within the turtle gear type. For each fish/invertebrate fleet associated with a turtle
gear type, divide the adjusted sea days (Step 2) by the sum of the sea days for the gear
type.
d. Derive the number of additional sea days needed for loggerhead turtles.
If the number of sea days needed for loggerhead turtles is less than or equal to the sum
of the sea days needed for the fish/invertebrate fleets associated with the turtle gear
type, then no additional sea days are needed to monitor turtles. The additional sea days
for turtles are set to zero for fish/invertebrate fleets.
If the number of sea days needed for loggerhead turtles is greater than the sum of the
sea days needed for the fish/invertebrate fleets associated with the turtle gear type, then
derive the difference between the sea days needed for loggerhead turtles and the sum
of the sea days needed for fish/invertebrates. For each turtle gear type, multiply the
difference between the number of sea days needed by the percentage of VTR sea days
9
for each fish/invertebrate fleet within the turtle gear type. These days represent the
number of additional days needed to monitor turtles in the fish/invertebrate fleets.
e. Derive the number of sea days needed for loggerhead turtles by fish/invertebrate fleets.
If the number of sea days needed for loggerhead turtles is less than or equal to the sum
of the sea days needed for the fish/invertebrate fleets associated with the turtle gear
type, then multiply the sea days needed for turtles by the percentage of sea days needed
for fish for each fish/invertebrate fleet within the turtle gear type (Step 4c).
If the number of sea days needed for loggerhead turtles is greater than the sum of the
sea days needed for the fish/invertebrate fleets associated with the turtle gear type, then
add the sea days needed for fish/invertebrates (Step 2) and the additional days needed
for turtles (Step 4d) for each fish/invertebrate fleet.
Step 5. Derive the number of sea days needed for fish/invertebrates and turtles COMBINED; select
the larger of the 2 numbers of sea days (i.e., adjusted sea days needed for the 14
fish/invertebrate species groups [Step 2] and sea days needed for loggerhead turtles [Step
4e]) within the fleet.
A total of 6,926 days is needed to achieve a 30% CV on the discards of the 15 species
groups in 2023 (Table 5).
Step 6. Partition fleets into funding source categories and sum the number of sea days needed by
funding source.
There were 5,293 days and 1,633 days needed to achieve a 30% CV for the 15 species
groups for agency-funded and industry-funded scallop fleets, respectively (Table 5).
Step 7. Obtain funded sea days by funding source category. For agency-funded sea days, calculate
the number of sea days applicable to the prioritization process (prioritized versus
nonprioritized days).
There are 3,373 agency-funded days applicable to the prioritization process (Table 5).
Step 8. Evaluate needed sea days versus funded sea days for each funding category, and calculate
shortfall or surplus sea days associated with the prioritization process.
A funding shortfall of 1,920 days is expected for agency-funded fleets (Table 5).
Step 9. Apply the penultimate approach algorithm 9 to allocate sea days to fleets for agency-funded
days that are applicable to the prioritization process.
See section 6.6.2.3 of the revised SBRM Omnibus Amendment (NEFMC, MAFMC, NMFS 2015) for a detailed
description of the penultimate cell approach.
9
10
As described in the revised SBRM Omnibus Amendment (NEFMC, MAFMC, NMFS
2015), the number of agency-funded sea days applicable to the prioritization process is
assigned to each fleet (fishing mode) after sequentially removing the sea days needed for
the species group/fleet with the highest sea day difference between adjacent species
groups within a fleet until the sea day shortfall is removed.
The following describes the steps taken to assign the agency-funded sea days applicable
to the prioritization process by using the penultimate approach (Table 6).
Step 9.1. For each agency-funded fleet where sea days are needed, list the sea days
needed for the 15 species groups (fish/invertebrates and loggerhead turtles) in
descending order within a fleet (Table 6). The minimum pilot days (Table 4)
serve as the minimum sea days needed for fleets.
Step 9.2. Calculate the differences in sea days between adjacent species groups within
each agency-funded fleet (Table 6).
Step 9.3. Within the resulting matrix of sea day differences (Step 9.2), identify the
largest difference and remove the sea days associated with the species group
accounting for this difference (Table 6).
Repeat this process for the next largest difference, with the constraint that the
differences are taken in penultimate order (from left to right in the matrix)
within a fleet, until the cumulative reduction of sea days equals the sea day
shortfall (Step 8). If the reduction in sea days by using the next largest
(penultimate) value is greater than the shortfall, reduce the number of sea days
only enough to remove the shortfall. If there is a tie in sea day differences
between adjacent species groups (e.g., 2 fleets with the same sea day
difference), then select the fleet with the largest penultimate sea days first to
break the tie 10.
The 2023 sea day shortfall is 1,920 days.
● The 501 days (spiny dogfish [Squalus acanthias] DOG, in Row 34; Tables
4, 5, and 6) associated with the largest sea day difference (483 days)
between adjacent species groups is removed first (Table 6). The
penultimate value in Row 34 is associated with minimum pilot coverage
(MPC, 18 days; Tables 4 and 6).
● The 892 days (small mesh groundfish, GFS in Row 7; Tables 4, 5, and 6)
associated with the second largest sea day difference (467 days) between
adjacent species groups is removed next (Table 6). The penultimate value
in Row 7 is associated with skate complex (Rajidae, SKATE, 425 days;
Tables 4 and 6).
10
The SBRM Amendment does not describe how to handle ties. This approach was selected because it has the
potential to impact the fewest number of species groups compared to other approaches of dealing with ties.
11
● The 782 days (Fluke-Scup-Black sea bass, Paralichthys dentatus,
Stenotomus chrysops, Centropristis striata, FSB, in Row 8; Tables 4, 5,
and 6) associated with the third largest sea day difference (266 days)
between adjacent species groups is removed next (Table 6). The
penultimate value in Row 8 is associated with spiny dogfish (DOG, 516
days; Tables 4 and 6).
● The 516 days (DOG, in Row 8, a fleet that has already been prioritized;
Tables 4, 5, and 6) associated with the fourth largest sea day difference
(240 days) between adjacent species groups is removed next (Table 6). The
penultimate value in Row 8 is associated with monkfish (Lophius
americanus, MONK, 276 days; Tables 4 and 6).
● The 188 days (GFS in Row 54; Tables 4, 5, and 6) associated with the fifth
largest sea day difference (170 days) between adjacent species groups is
removed next (Table 6). The penultimate value in Row 54 is associated
with minimum pilot coverage (MPC, 18 days; Tables 4 and 6).
● The 487 days (TURS in Row 6; Tables 5 and 6) associated with the sixth
largest sea day difference (133 days) between adjacent species groups is
removed next (Table 6). The penultimate value in Row 6 is associated with
Fluke-Scup-Black sea bass (FSB, 354 days, Tables 4 and 6).
● Removing the 354 days (FSB in Row 6 a fleet that has already been
prioritized; Tables 4, 5, and 6) associated with the seventh largest sea day
difference (162 days) between adjacent species groups would remove more
sea days than needed to reach the shortfall amount of 1,920 days (Table 6).
Thus, only 161 of the 162 sea day difference between adjacent species
groups (354 days for the FSB and 192 days for DOG are needed (Table 6).
The penultimate value for Row 6 becomes 193 (354 - 161) days for FSB.
Step 9.4. After the removal of sea days within a fleet (Step 9.3), the remaining highest
sea days (i.e., the penultimate or the value farthest to the left in Step 9.1)
becomes the “PRIORITIZED” sea days required for that fleet.
The 3,373 prioritized sea days provide observer coverage to all 37 agencyfunded fleets. There are 32 fleets for which no reduction in sea days occur, and
there are 5 fleets (Rows 6, 7, 8, 34, and 54) for which the numbers of sea days
allocated are fewer than the days needed to achieve a 30% CV. The prioritized
sea days for Rows 6, 7, 8, 34, and 54 become 193, 425, 276, 18, and 18,
respectively (Table 6). The MA large mesh otter trawl fleet (Row 6) is
expected to exceed a 30% CV for TURS and FSB. The NE small mesh otter
trawl fleet (Row 7) is expected to exceed a 30% CV for GFS, while the NE
large mesh otter trawl fleet (Row 8) is expected to exceed a 30% CV for FSB
and DOG. The NE large mesh gillnet fleet (Row 34) is expected to exceed a
30% CV for DOG and the NE lobster pot, and trap fleet (Row 54) is expected
to exceed a 30% CV for GFS.
Step 9.5. Identify fleets that cannot be covered by the observer program this year.
In 2023, there are practical limitations that prevent the observer program from
12
covering 6 fleets (NE floating trap [Row 29], MA purse seine [Row 36], MA
small mesh beam trawl [Row 56], MA small mesh Scottish seine [Row 59], MA
other dredge [Row 60], and NE mussel dredge [Row 62]; Table 7, rose shaded
cells). The observer program currently has no sampling protocols in place for
these fleets and will need time to create new trainings, logs, and/or databases to
support sampling in these fleets. It is unlikely that the observer program will be
able to make significant changes to the observer databases or observer manuals
this year. The 63 prioritized sea days associated with the 6 fleets have been
reallocated to the MA large mesh otter trawl fleet (Row 6), the last fleet impacted
by the prioritization process. The MA large mesh otter trawl fleet now has 256
(193 + 63) days; however, the CVs for TURS and FSB are expected to exceed
30%. The 6 fleets with practical limitations have zero days (Table 7).
Step 10. Allocate agency-funded, nonprioritized sea days.
There are 561 agency-funded days that are not applicable to the prioritization process
(nonprioritized MMPA and ESA days; Table 7).
Of the 516 MMPA sea days, 350 MMPA days, all assumed to have limited sampling
protocols, are allocated to a row designated as “MMPA coverage” and will be associated
with the MA and NE gillnet fleets (Rows 30-35; Table 7). The funding equivalent of 166
MMPA sea days are assigned to a row designated as “MMPA analysis.” The 45 ESA days,
all assumed to have limited sampling protocols, are allocated to a row designated “ESA
coverage” and will be associated with MA large and extra large mesh gillnet fleets (Rows
31 and 32).
Step 11. Allocate industry-funded scallop days. The sea days for the industry-funded scallop fleets
are assigned to trips via the call-in system. The sea day coverage for industry-funded
scallop fleets will depend on industry activity from April 2023 through March 2024 and
will be capped as described above. Because of differences in stratification between the
SBRM and scallop compensation rate analyses, the 1,696 industry-funded scallop sea days
have not been allocated to individual fish/invertebrate fleets but rather to groups of
fish/invertebrate fleets that correspond to the stratification used in the compensation rate
analysis: MA Access Area fleets (Rows 38 and 40; Table 7); Open Areas fleets (Rows 12,
42, and 43 for Limited Access General Category fleets and Rows 44 and 45 for Limited
Access; Table 7); and NE Access Area fleets (Rows 39 and 41; Table 7). The allocated sea
days represent the maximum coverage (i.e., caps). The NGOM fleet has been grouped with
the NE Access Area fleets.
Because of the lack of any accessible rotational areas in the Mid-Atlantic in 2023, 68 IFS
days were allocated to the MA Access Area fleets (Rows 38 and 40; Table 7), which results
in a 75 (143 – 68) day shortfall. The only open rotational area for the Limited Access fleet
in 2023 will be Area II 11, and the 68 days represent the proportion of Area II trips expected
11
March 31, 2023 GARFO bulletin: 2023 fishing year limited access allocations for the Atlantic sea scallop fishery
13
to depart from MA ports. Area II, as well as the Nantucket Lightship-North are open for
the Limited Access General Category fleet, but none of this fleet’s access area trips are
expected to depart from MA ports. It is assumed that an adequate proportion of the surplus
131 (572 - 441) sea days in the NE Access Area fleets (Rows 39 and 41; Table 7) will be
enough to cover the required 75 day shortfall in the MA Access Area fleets (Rows 38 and
40; Table 7). Thus, industry-funded scallop sea days are expected to meet or exceed the
SBRM required sea days for each fleet group corresponding to the stratification used in the
compensation rate analysis (Table 7).
Step 12. The sea days allocated for April 2023 through March 2024 (TOTAL) is the sum of the
prioritized days (Step 9.5), nonprioritized days (Step 10), and industry-funded scallop days
(Step 11). A total of 5,630 days is allocated across 35 fleets (Table 7).
The agency-funded fleets with an * or ** (Table 7) indicate that all or some of the observer
coverage will be assigned via the Pre-Trip Notification System (PTNS; Palmer et al. 2013)
or call-in programs for scallops and herring. This designation means all or some of the
observer coverage within each of these fleets will depend upon industry activity for April
2023 through March 2024. The PTNS sea days for agency-funded fleets will be
proportionally allocated based initially on previous year’s industry activity and then
adjusted to correspond to current year’s activity.
All other fleets will have sea days assigned to fishing trips via the NEFOP sea day schedule.
The prioritized sea days on the NEFOP sea day schedule are provided by fleet. A matrix
of VTR trip percentages by quarter and state within a fleet based on July 2021 through June
2022 data is provided as information on previous industry activity patterns. This
information does not replace third-party provider’s local knowledge of current industry
activity.
DISCUSSION
The sample size analysis conducted by McAfee and Wigley (2023) derived the expected
CV of the discard estimates for various species groups over a range of sample sizes for each of the
species groups that were not filtered out by the importance filter (see Table 7 and Figure 3 in
McAfee and Wigley 2023). Deriving the expected CV assumes the variance of the discard estimate
is constant over a range of sample sizes (number of trips). The results of the fish/invertebrate
sample size analysis influences the outcome of the prioritization process from year to year
depending on available funding, the rank order of sea days needed by species group, and the sea
day differences between adjacent species groups within each fleet. All of these factors (both within
and between fleets) dictate the outcome of the penultimate approach algorithm, and ultimately
determines which fleets have less sea days allocated to them in order to meet the funding shortfall.
For example, there was a funding shortfall in both 2022 and 2023 that triggered the prioritization
process. The arrangement of sea day differences caused sea days to be removed from the MA small
mesh otter trawl fleet (Row 5) in 2022, but not in 2023. This difference results in more allocated
sea days for this fleet in 2023. The results of the fish/invertebrate sample size analysis is more
pronounced in the 6 gillnet fleets in 2023 because of the updated sea turtle analysis in Murray 2023
14
which caused these fleets to be driven by species groups other than TURS (Table 5). The effect is
most noticeable in the MA gillnet fleets where less sea days are needed compared to 2022.
New NMFS funding in 2023 from the ESA Annual Determination provision provides
additional coverage to MA large and extra large mesh gillnet fleets this year to monitor sea turtle
interactions in state waters. These trips will follow MMPA sampling design and protocols where
the observer performs protected species haul watches. Full bycatch sampling of fish/invertebrates
does not occur on these trips.
The estimated 320 prioritized carryover days are the result of unaccomplished sea days
from April 2022 through March 2023, and the 1,379 prioritized days are from obligated but not
spent funds. Together, the 1,699 (320 + 1,379) days increase the number of prioritized sea days to
monitor the 15 SBRM species groups from April 2023 through March 2024. Because of the
unaccomplished and unused sea days from April 2022 through March 2023, it is possible that the
lower observer coverage could lead to discard estimates with CVs that are higher than the SBRM
precision standard for some fleets.
At-Sea Monitoring (ASM) coverage associated with Northeast Multispecies (groundfish)
FMP, is used for compliance monitoring and is not used to meet SBRM sea day requirements. To
reduce potential bias within SBRM, data associated with ASM were not used in the 2023
fish/invertebrate analyses (McAfee and Wigley 2023) because these trips may have different
goals/objectives and/or different stratification/sea day allocations than the other NEFOP and IFS
trips. Data collected from electronic monitoring (EM) programs, which serve as an alternative to
ASM, were not included, but NEFOP data collected from vessels participating in EM programs
were used in the analyses. This approach follows the 2018 SBRM Fishery Management Action
Team recommendation to exclude individual FMP compliance monitoring trips from future annual
discard estimation, precision, and sample size analyses for fish/invertebrate species groups (Hogan
et al. 2019).
The SBRM analyses use master data and are predicated upon accurately reported and
audited data. To reduce or prevent “erroneous” fleets, the VTR master data would benefit from
enhanced data auditing (including data leverage between data collection systems) coupled with
targeted outreach and education to industry members on the importance of accurate reporting.
Additionally, gear code consistency is needed between the fishery dependent data collection
systems (Observer, Vessel Trip Report, and Commercial Fisheries databases).
As a practical matter, fleets with low trip activity within a quarter or overall are very
difficult to “find” unless they are part of PTNS or a call-in program. Attempts to assign observers
can be inefficient since the probability of randomly finding such trips at a specific port or time
period will be very low. While some of the challenges may be overcome with outreach, vessel
selection letters, and other operational efforts, some fleets may fall below practical detection limits,
and therefore some of the sea days associated with low trip activity fleets may not be accomplished.
If any sea days are not accomplished, those sea days will be carried over.
Trip Selection Systems
The observer program uses 3 systems to select fishing trips for observer coverage: the
PTNS; the IFS interactive voice response/call-in program; and the NEFOP Sea Day Schedule
selection protocols that include selection by phone, email, letter, Vessel Monitoring System
message, or in person at the docks (dock intercept). The methods used to apportion observer sea
days among the trip selection systems are described in the 2023 Observer Sea Days by Trip
Selection System (NEFSC 2023).
15
Expanded Sampling Frame for MA and NE Lobster Pot Fleets
In April 2016, the agency found that expanding the sampling frame for the MA and NE
lobster pot fleets to include all vessels with a federal permit requires a regulatory change to the
SBRM Amendment. The agency has pursued the required language change through a pending
framework action. The pending SBRM framework action seeks to clarify the NEFMC and
MAFMC’s intent for the SBRM process to monitor bycatch of federally managed or protected
species from the entire active lobster pot fleet. This pending action would expand the lobster pot
sampling frame used in this analysis by allowing the NEFSC to include fishing activity and catch
data (e.g., trip length, date, pounds kept, port of landing) for all active lobster pot vessels in the
annual SBRM analyses and to assign NEFOP coverage to any federal lobster pot vessel, regardless
of whether the vessel is required to submit VTRs. In the calendar quarter following the
implementation of this pending SBRM framework action, all active federal lobster vessels may be
eligible for selection. Implementing the pending action would not change the number of sea days
needed for April 2023 through March 2024. Under a separate action, a proposed rule 12 to
implement a requirement for electronic VTR submissions for all vessels in the lobster industry was
published on July 11, 2022.
The rest of the SBRM fleets did not need to have the sampling frame expanded because
these vessels have VTR reporting requirements associated with their federal fishing permits and
their fishing trips are already included in the SBRM sampling frame.
Specific FMP Changes and SBRM
As mentioned above, Atlantic chub mackerel was integrated into the MAFMC’s Mackerel,
Squid, and Butterfish FMP in August 2020. This is the first year Atlantic chub mackerel was
included in the SBRM analysis because annual SBRM discard reports were not produced in 2021
and 2022 because of data gaps from the COVID-19 pandemic (McAfee and Wigley 2023).
Additionally, NMFS implemented Amendment 23 to the Northeast Multispecies FMP on January
9, 2023. Amendment 23 changes several components of the sector monitoring program, which
includes how the ASM coverage target is determined, authorizes the audit model EM and MREM
alternatives to human at-sea monitoring, and exempts vessels from ASM coverage if fishing
exclusively west of 71°30´W, in addition to other administrative and management changes 13. Most
of these changes to the ASM program will not directly affect the SBRM because ASM data are
excluded from the SBRM fish/invertebrate analyses; however, some technical modifications will
be needed to account for the retention requirement of all allocated groundfish species catch in the
newly implemented operational MREM program.
12
13
Proposed rule published July 11, 2022: Federal Register RIN 0648-BF01
See Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Amendment 23 website for more information.
16
REFERENCES CITED
Hogan F, Didden J, Gustafson, K, Keane E, Legault C, Linden D, Murray K, Palmer D, Potts D,
Tholke C, Weeks S, Wigley S. 2019. Standardized bycatch reporting methodology 3-year
review report – 2018. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-257. 196 p.
McAfee B, Wigley SE. 2023. 2023 discard estimation, precision, and sample size analyses for 14
federally managed species in the waters off the northeastern United States. US Dept
Commer, NOAA Tech Memo NMFS NE 300, 181 p.
Murray KT. 2012. Estimating observer sea day requirements in the Mid-Atlantic region to
monitor loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) interactions. US Dept Commer, Northeast
Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc 12-26; 10 p.
Murray KT. 2020. Estimated magnitude of sea turtle interactions and mortality in U.S. bottom
trawl gear, 2014-2018. US Dept Commer, NOAA Tech Memo NMFS NE 260, 19 p.
Murray, KT. 2023. Estimated magnitude of sea turtle interactions in U.S. sink gillnet gear, 20172021. NOAA Tech Memo NMFS NE 296, 19 p.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2004. Evaluating bycatch: a national approach to
standardized bycatch monitoring programs. US Dept Commer, NOAA Tech Memo.
NMFS-F/SPO-66; 108 p.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2008. Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast
Region Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology Omnibus Amendment. Federal
Register, Vol. 73, No. 18, Monday, January 28, 2008. p. 4736-4758.
New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council (MAFMC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2007. Northeast Region
Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology: An Omnibus Amendment to the Fishery
Management Plans of the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.
June 2007. 642 p.
New England Fishery Management Council (NEFMC), Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management
Council (MAFMC), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). 2015. Standardized
Bycatch Reporting Methodology: An Omnibus Amendment to the Fishery Management
Plans of the Mid-Atlantic and New England Regional Fishery Management Councils.
March 2015. 361 p.
Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC), Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office
(GARFO) 2020. 2020 Standardized bycatch reporting methodology annual discard report
with observer sea day allocation. NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE-262. 30 p.
Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC). 2023. 2023 Observer sea days by trip selection
17
system. Northeast Fisheries Science Center. US Dept Commer, NOAA Tech Memo
NMFS-NE 302. 23 p.
Palmer MC, Hersey P, Marotta H, Shield G, Cierpich SB. 2013. The design, implementation and
performance of an observer pre-trip notification system (PTNS) for the northeast United
States groundfish fishery. US Dept Commer, Northeast Fish Sci Cent Ref Doc 13-21. 82
p.
Warden ML, Murray KT. 2011. Reframing protected species interactions in commercial fishing
gear: moving toward estimating the unobservable. Fish. Res110:387-390.
18
Table 1. A list of the 14 fish and invertebrate species groups and 1 species of sea turtle (in bold), with species
group abbreviations in parentheses and scientific names in italics. The species that compose these groups
correspond to the 13 federal fishery management plans implemented in the waters off the northeastern United
States.
Species/Group
ATLANTIC HERRING (HERR)
ATLANTIC SALMON (SAL)
BLUEFISH (BLUE)
FLUKE - SCUP - BLACK SEA BASS (FSB)
Black sea bass
Fluke
Scup
LARGE MESH GROUNDFISH (GFL)
Acadian redfish
American plaice
Atlantic cod
Atlantic halibut
Atlantic wolffish
Haddock
Ocean pout
Pollock
White hake
Windowpane flounder
Winter flounder
Witch flounder
Yellowtail flounder
MONKFISH (MONK)
RED DEEPSEA CRAB (RCRAB)
SEA SCALLOP (SCAL)
SKATE COMPLEX 14 (SKATE)
Barndoor skate
Clearnose skate
Little skate
Rosette skate
Smooth skate
Thorny skate
Winter skate
SMALL MESH GROUNDFISH (GFS)
Offshore hake
Red hake
Silver hake
SPINY DOGFISH (DOG)
SQUID 15 - BUTTERFISH - MACKEREL (SBM)
Atlantic chub mackerel
Atlantic mackerel
Butterfish
Longfin inshore squid
Northern shortfin squid
SURFCLAM - OCEAN QUAHOG 16 (SCOQ)
Surfclam
Ocean quahog
TILEFISH 17 (TILE)
Blueline tilefish
Golden tilefish
LOGGERHEAD TURTLE (TURS)
14 Skate
Scientific Name
Clupea harengus
Salmo salar
Pomatomus saltatrix
Centropristis striata
Paralichthys dentatus
Stenotomus chrysops
Sebastes fasciatus
Hippoglossoides platessoides
Gadus morhua
Hippoglossus hippoglossus
Anarhichas lupus
Melanogrammus aeglefinus
Zoarces americanus
Pollachius virens
Urophycis tenuis
Scophthalmus aquosus
Pseudopleuronectes americanus
Glyptocephalus cynoglossus
Limanda ferruginea
Lophius americanus
Chaceon quinquedens
Placopecten magellanicus
Rajidae
Dipturus laevis
Raja eglanteria
Leucoraja erinacea
Leucoraja garmani
Malacoraja senta
Amblyraja radiata
Leucoraja ocellata
Merluccius albidus
Urophycis chuss
Merluccius bilinearis
Squalus acanthias
Scomber colias
Scomber scombrus
Peprilus triacanthus
Doryteuthis (Amerigo) pealeii
Illex illecebrosus
Spisula solidissima
Arctica islandica
Caulolatilus microps
Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps
Caretta caretta
complex is composed of 7 species as well as skate, unknown, and little/winter mixed skate. Individual species are not
summarized separately.
15 Squid, unclassified is included in this species group. Longfin inshore squid and northern shortfin squid are also known as
Loligo squid and Illex squid, respectively.
16 In this analysis, surfclams and ocean quahogs compose the species group and are not reported separately.
17 Tilefish, unclassified is included in this species group.
19
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 (SE) of the estimated discards (live lb) for 14 Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) species groups combined, by
fleet, based on July 2021 through June 2022 data. Dark shading indicates fleets not considered or with no observed trips in the annual analysis.
These CVs were not used in the annual sample size analysis. Hatching indicates confidential cells. Blank CV indicates either no discards or
discards equals 0. See Appendix Table 1 for fleet stratification abbreviations; “P” indicates fleets with “pilot” designation. Taken from Table 5C
in McAfee and Wigley 2023.
Species: 14 SBRM SPECIES GROUPS COMBINED
Fleet
Row Gear Type
Access
Area
Trip
Region
Category
Mesh
Group
Total
Kept
Discarded
CV
SE
Pilot
1
Longline, Bottom
OPEN
all
MA
all
1,561,431
1,498,688
62,743
0.428
26,876
2
Longline, Bottom
OPEN
all
NE
all
1,128,045
1,068,859
59,186
0.338
20,006
3
Hand Line
OPEN
all
MA
all
323,736
258,247
65,489
0.370
24,244
4
Hand Line
OPEN
all
NE
all
1,358,444
1,313,331
45,113
3.256
146,906
5
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
sm
34,258,261
28,328,639
5,929,622
0.220
1,305,924
6
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
lg
18,281,462
12,727,735
5,553,727
0.121
672,832
7
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
sm
71,664,038
53,669,761
17,994,277
0.118
2,124,031
8
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
lg
69,528,257
44,529,139
24,999,118
0.110
2,756,295
950,910
0.000
0
745,900
0.392
292,228
10
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel OPEN
all
NE
sm
6,604,979
5,654,069
12
Otter Trawl, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
MA
lg
86,069
86,069
13
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
MA
sm
1,511,049
765,149
14
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
MA
lg
66,117
66,117
15
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
NE
sm
816,681
816,681
18
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
NE
sm
990,192
860,430
19
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
NE
lg
180,520
180,520
20
Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator
OPEN
all
NE
sm
895,978
895,978
21
Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator
OPEN
all
NE
lg
1,504,008
1,186,873
22
Otter Trawl, Shrimp
OPEN
all
MA
sm
1,421
1,421
P
23
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
MA
sm
978,397
978,397
P
24
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
MA
lg
931,576
931,576
P
25
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
NE
sm
869,914
869,914
P
lg
206,815
206,815
P
0
0
P
26
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
NE
P
P
P
129,762
0.000
0
P
P
P
317,135
0.000
0
27
Haul Seine, Beach
OPEN
all
NE
all
29
Floating Trap
OPEN
all
NE
all
2,515
2,515
30
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
sm
2,192,675
2,146,811
45,864
0.270
12,394
31
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
lg
3,671,753
3,515,980
155,773
0.236
36,720
32
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
xlg
2,112,392
1,962,033
150,359
0.253
38,041
33
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
sm
7,841
7,841
20
P
P
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 (SE) of the estimated discards (live lb) for 14 Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) species groups
combined, by fleet, based on July 2021 through June 2022 data. Dark shading indicates fleets not considered or with no observed trips in the
annual analysis. These CVs were not used in the annual sample size analysis. Hatching indicates confidential cells. Blank CV indicates either
no discards or discards equals 0. See Appendix Table 1 for fleet stratification abbreviations; “P” indicates fleets with “pilot” designation. Taken
from Table 5C in McAfee and Wigley 2023.
Species: 14 SBRM SPECIES GROUPS COMBINED
Fleet
Row Gear Type
Access
Area
Trip
Region
Category
Mesh
Group
Total
Kept
Discarded
CV
SE
Pilot
34
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
lg
3,702,291
3,226,656
475,635
0.689
327,712
35
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
xlg
13,974,077
12,855,148
1,118,929
0.132
147,602
36
Purse Seine
OPEN
all
MA
all
0
0
37
Purse Seine
OPEN
all
NE
all
3,083,450
3,083,450
38
Dredge, Scallop
AA
GEN
MA
all
846,538
808,632
37,906
0.326
12,354
39
Dredge, Scallop
AA
GEN
NE
all
11,273,994
9,844,956
1,429,037
0.142
202,254
40
Dredge, Scallop
AA
LIM
MA
all
25,837,593
21,188,136
4,649,457
0.201
934,837
41
Dredge, Scallop
AA
LIM
NE
all
166,515,254
145,006,368
21,508,886
0.118
2,545,953
42
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
MA
all
9,238,123
7,052,010
2,186,113
0.086
188,242
43
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
NE
all
8,724,730
7,785,473
939,257
0.162
152,106
44
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
LIM
MA
all
15,327,450
13,226,456
2,100,994
0.540
1,135,160
45
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
LIM
NE
all
147,818,759
123,511,805
24,306,954
0.109
2,649,390
46
Trawl, Midwater
all
all
NE
sm
7,342,426
7,340,500
1,926
0.666
1,282
48
Pots and Traps, Fish
OPEN
all
MA
all
769,547
690,481
79,066
0.269
21,261
49
Pots and Traps, Fish
OPEN
all
NE
all
812,177
517,123
295,054
0.281
82,846
51
Pots and Traps, Conch
OPEN
all
MA
all
6,297
4,686
1,611
2.263
3,646
52
Pots and Traps, Conch
OPEN
all
NE
all
9,277
7,883
1,394
0.651
908
53
Pots and Traps, Lobster
OPEN
all
MA
all
171,081
129,220
41,861
0.501
20,988
54
Pots and Traps, Lobster
OPEN
all
NE
all
2,311,548
788,337
1,523,211
0.720
1,096,773
55
Pots and Traps, Crab
OPEN
all
NE
all
5,696,351
4,530,381
1,165,970
0.143
166,310
56
Beam Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
sm
17,500
17,500
P
60
Dredge, Other
OPEN
all
MA
all
340,680
340,680
P
61
Dredge, Other
OPEN
all
NE
all
2,166,533
2,166,533
P
63
Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam
OPEN
all
MA
all
197,068,066
195,314,347
1,753,719
0.385
674,906
64
Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam
OPEN
all
NE
all
141,786,505
139,537,844
2,248,662
1.683
3,785,402
Confidential fleets
286,329
286,329
Other minor fleets
214,039
214,039
987,075,177
864,004,559
123,070,619
0.055
6,803,971
TOTAL
21
P
0
Table 3. The most recent average annual estimates and 5 year pooled estimates of sea turtle (Loggerhead [Caretta caretta], Kemp’s ridley
[Lepidochelys kempii], Leatherback [Dermochelys coriacea], and Green [Chelonia mydas]) interactions and their associated coefficient of
variation (CV) in US commercial fisheries.
Fishery
Average
Annual
Estimate
114
5 year Estimate
CV
Years Included
Species*
Reference
571
0.29
01 Jan 2014-2018
Loggerhead
Murray 2020
Bottom trawl, for fish and scallops,
Mid-Atlantic
Bottom trawl, for fish and scallops,
9
46
0.45
01 Jan 2014 - 2018
Kemp’s ridley
Murray 2020
Mid-Atlantic
4
20
0.72
01 Jan 2014 - 2018
Leatherback
Murray 2020
Bottom trawl, for fish and scallops,
Mid-Atlantic
Bottom trawl, for fish and scallops,
3
16
0.73
01 Jan 2014 - 2018
Green
Murray 2020
Mid-Atlantic
2
12
0.70
01 Jan 2014 - 2018
Loggerhead
Murray 2020
Bottom trawl, for fish and scallops,
Georges Bank
Bottom trawl, for fish and scallops,
1
6
1.0
01 Jan 2014 - 2018
Leatherback
Murray 2020
Georges Bank
28
142
0.89
01 Jan 2017-2021
Loggerhead
Murray 2023
Sink Gillnet (Mid-Atlantic, Gulf of Maine,
and Georges Bank combined)
18
91
0.62
01 Jan 2017-2021
Kemp’s ridley
Murray 2023
Sink Gillnet (Mid-Atlantic, Gulf of Maine,
and Georges Bank combined)
5
26
0.98
01 Jan 2017-2021
Leatherback
Murray 2023
Sink Gillnet (Mid-Atlantic, Gulf of Maine,
and Georges Bank combined)
10
49
1.01
01 Jan 2017-2021
Green
Murray 2023
Sink Gillnet (Mid-Atlantic, Gulf of Maine,
and Georges Bank combined)
6
32
0.59
01 Jan 2017-2021
Unidentified
Murray 2023
Sink Gillnet (Mid-Atlantic, Gulf of Maine,
hard-shelled
and Georges Bank combined)
* Sea day monitoring needs for green, Kemp’s ridley, and leatherback turtles in sink gillnet gear were not projected because of the low encounter rate of these species.
22
Table 4. The number of sea days needed to achieve a 30% coefficient of variation of the discard estimate for each of the 14 fish and invertebrate
species groups, the number of pilot sea days, the number of minimum pilot sea days, and the maximum number of sea days needed for each
fleet (2023 Sea Days Needed) for fish and invertebrate species groups based on July 2021 through June 2022 data. Bold red font indicates basis
for fleet sea days. See Appendix Table 1 for fleet stratification abbreviations; “P” indicates fleets with “pilot” designation. Species group
abbreviations are given in Table 1. Taken from Table 6B in McAfee and Wigley 2023.
Fleet
Gear
Row Type
1
Longline, Bottom
3
Hand Line
2
4
5
6
7
8
9
Longline, Bottom
Hand Line
Otter Trawl
Otter Trawl
Otter Trawl
Otter Trawl
Access
Area
Trip
Region
OPEN
all
MA
all
0
0
0
0
0
OPEN
all
MA
all
0
0
0
0
0
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
all
all
all
all
all
all
NE
NE
MA
MA
NE
NE
Mesh
Size BLUE HERR SAL RCRAB SCAL
all
all
sm
lg
sm
lg
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel OPEN
all
MA
lg
11 Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel OPEN
all
NE
lg
13 Otter Trawl, Twin
all
MA
10 Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel OPEN
12 Otter Trawl, Scallop
OPEN
14 Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
15 Otter Trawl, Twin
16 Otter Trawl, Ruhle
17 Otter Trawl, Ruhle
18 Otter Trawl, Ruhle
19 Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
all
GEN
all
all
all
all
all
all
NE
MA
MA
NE
MA
MA
NE
NE
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
SBM
0
0
0
0
0
804
0
309
3
3
0
0
0
MONK
0
0
0
0
GFL
0
0
0
0
GFS
0
0
0
0
SKATE
0
0
0
0
DOG
0
0
0
0
FSB
0
0
0
0
0
1,388
565
490
474
0
283
892
425
381
302
3
3
3
3
0
0
0
276
0
185
0
168
94
138
192
516
3
354
782
3
2023
Min
Sea
Pilot Pilot
Days
Days Needed Pilot
SCOQ TILE Days
0
0
92
92
92
0
0
58
14
14
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
15
45
0
104
0
158
0
0
3
146
242
3
14
15
14
15
31
1,388
41
892
34
33
3
354
782
3
P
11
P
sm
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
51
lg
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
21
sm
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
11
0
lg
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
40
sm
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
23
sm
lg
sm
lg
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
44
13
30
39
11
40
40
44
23
13
30
39
11
40
40
44
23
13
30
39
40
P
P
40
P
23
P
44
13
30
39
P
P
P
P
20 Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator
OPEN
all
NE
sm
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
104
22 Otter Trawl, Shrimp
OPEN
all
MA
sm
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
65
P
lg
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
44
P
21 Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator
23 Otter Trawl, Other
24 Otter Trawl, Other
25 Otter Trawl, Other
26 Otter Trawl, Other
27 Haul Seine, Beach
28 Floating Trap
29 Floating Trap
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
NE
MA
MA
NE
lg
sm
sm
10
10
sm
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
25
13
13
NE
all
OPEN
all
MA
xlg
NE
lg
34 Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
35 Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
OPEN
all
all
all
MA
NE
NE
lg
sm
xlg
14
0
0
7
0
0
14
0
0
7
0
0
14
0
0
7
0
0
14
0
0
7
0
0
14
0
0
7
0
0
23
14
0
0
7
0
0
14
0
0
7
0
75
14
0
0
7
0
0
14
0
0
7
0
0
14
14
0
93
7
7
0
0
82
0
501
0
14
0
0
7
0
0
14
0
0
7
0
0
6
14
0
0
7
0
0
6
14
27
16
7
31
52
22
58
10
32 Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
22
58
10
MA
33 Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
58
44
40
10
6
22
44
40
94
10
6
22
58
40
94
10
6
22
58
40
94
10
6
22
58
40
0
10
6
22
58
40
0
10
6
22
58
40
0
10
6
22
58
40
72
10
6
22
58
40
0
10
6
22
58
40
0
10
6
22
58
40
0
10
6
22
58
40
0
10
6
22
58
40
0
10
6
22
58
40
0
all
all
22
58
40
0
MA
NE
all
all
58
40
0
lg
OPEN
OPEN
40
0
NE
30 Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
31 Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
0
6
13
13
13
7
18
18
22
6
14
P
P
P
P
P
P
P
93
13
7
501
82
P
Table 4, continued. The number of sea days needed to achieve a 30% coefficient of variation of the discard estimate for each of the 14 fish and
invertebrate species groups, the number of pilot sea days, the number of minimum pilot sea days, and the maximum number of sea days needed
for each fleet (2023 Sea Days Needed) for fish and invertebrate species groups based on July 2021 through June 2022 data. Bold red font indicates
basis for fleet sea days. See Appendix Table 1 for fleet stratification abbreviations; “P” indicates fleets with “pilot” designation. Species group
abbreviations are given in Table 1. Taken from Table 6B in McAfee and Wigley 2023.
Fleet
Gear
Row Type
36 Purse Seine
37 Purse Seine
38 Dredge, Scallop
39 Dredge, Scallop
40 Dredge, Scallop
41 Dredge, Scallop
42 Dredge, Scallop
43 Dredge, Scallop
44 Dredge, Scallop
45 Dredge, Scallop
46 Trawl, Midwater
47 Pots and Traps, Other
48 Pots and Traps, Fish
49 Pots and Traps, Fish
50 Pots and Traps, Eel
51 Pots and Traps, Conch
52 Pots and Traps, Conch
53 Pots and Traps, Lobster
54 Pots and Traps, Lobster
55 Pots and Traps, Crab
56 Beam Trawl
57 Beam Trawl
58 Beam Trawl
59 Scottish Seine
60 Dredge, Other
61 Dredge, Other
62 Dredge, Mussel
63 Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam
64 Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam
Access
Area
Trip
Region
OPEN
all
MA
all
13
13
13
13
13
AA
GEN
MA
all
0
0
0
0
0
OPEN
AA
AA
AA
all
GEN
LIM
LIM
NE
NE
MA
NE
Mesh
Size BLUE HERR SAL RCRAB SCAL
all
all
all
all
OPEN
GEN
MA
all
OPEN
LIM
MA
all
OPEN
OPEN
all
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
OPEN
GEN
LIM
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
all
NE
NE
NE
NE
all
all
sm
all
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
0
0
350
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
316
3
3
0
0
0
91
0
101
0
28
0
0
132
93
0
189
0
0
0
3
0
0
0
0
GFS
13
0
0
0
0
0
0
128
0
13
153
0
0
0
13
0
0
0
SKATE
0
181
0
39
DOG
13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
FSB
13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
169
227
717
198
552
513
3
3
3
3
3
3
45
45
45
45
45
45
all
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
MA
NE
MA
NE
NE
MA
NE
NE
MA
all
all
all
all
sm
sm
lg
sm
0
0
0
0
3
3
9
8
0
0
0
0
3
3
9
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
14
3
3
3
9
8
3
9
8
0
0
0
0
3
3
9
8
0
0
0
0
3
3
9
8
0
0
0
0
3
3
9
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
188
3
3
0
3
9
8
0
3
9
8
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
9
8
0
0
45
0
0
0
45
0
0
0
45
0
0
0
45
0
0
0
45
0
0
13
45
0
0
0
0
GFL
all
0
0
0
0
13
NE
0
0
0
MONK
all
all
0
0
13
MA
NE
0
0
SBM
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
9
8
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
9
8
2023
Min
Sea
Pilot Pilot
Days
Days Needed Pilot
SCOQ TILE Days
13
13
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
13
12
13
17
15
15
17
10
0
107
0
266
101
0
64
19
0
0
96
58
16
10
91
93
128
25
28
350
93
0
107
107
189
0
23
23
23
0
3
177
3
111
3
717
3
0
23
13
13
45
45
45
45
45
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
3
9
8
0
0
0
25
15
20
32
0
415
3
3
0
3
9
8
13
12
12
20
12
12
20
3
3
P
9
P
3
3
9
8
105
3
8
MA
all
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
16
NE
all
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
9
NE
MA
NE
all
all
all
Totals
24
0
0
778
24
0
0
24
0
0
778 778
24
0
0
24
0
0
792 1,444
24
24
24
0
47
1,891
1,979
0
0
24
0
0
1,473
24
0
0
4,284
24
0
0
2,641
24
0
0
3,575
24
0
0
3,203
24
0
0
778
24
24
24
24
0
63
25
47
778
3,593
2,016
7,238
0
40
P
188
105
8
13
P
18
105
9
P
19
19
P
P
P
P
P
Table 5. The number of sea days needed to monitor fish/invertebrates (FISH), loggerhead turtles (TURS), combined species groups (COMBINED)
by fleet (Steps 1 through 5); the number of funded sea days for April 2023 through March 2024 (Steps 6 and 7); and the differences between needed
and funded days (Step 8). See Appendix Table 1 for fleet stratification abbreviations.
Step 1
Fleet
Row
Access
Area
Step 2
2023 Sea
Days Needed
for FISH
2023 Sea Days
Needed for FISH
ADJUSTED
Step 3
2023
Sea Days
Needed for
TURS
Step 4a
Vessel Trip
Report Sea
Days
Step 4b
% Vessel
Trip Report
Sea Days
Step 4c
Step 4d
Step 4e
Step 5
% Sea
Days
Needed
for FISH
Additional Sea
Days needed
for TURS
TURS Sea
Days by
FISH fleet
2023
Sea Days
Needed
COMBINED
1
Gear Type
Longline, Bottom
OPEN
Trip Cat.
all
Region
MA
Mesh
all
92
92
891
92
2
Longline, Bottom
OPEN
all
NE
all
14
14
322
14
3
Hand Line
OPEN
all
MA
all
14
14
2,783
14
4
Hand Line
OPEN
all
NE
all
15
15
2,055
5
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
sm
1,388
1,388
5,189
0.413
0.787
95
1,483
1,483
6
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
lg
354
354
7,316
0.582
0.201
133
487
487
7
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
sm
892
892
7,879
892
8
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
lg
782
782
12,111
782
9
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel
OPEN
all
MA
lg
3
0
8
0
10
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel
OPEN
all
NE
sm
51
51
585
51
11
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel
OPEN
all
NE
lg
11
11
30
12
Otter Trawl, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
MA
lg
21
21
60
13
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
MA
sm
40
40
164
40
14
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
MA
lg
40
40
41
40
15
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
NE
sm
44
44
108
16
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
MA
sm
23
0
30
0.000
0.000
0
0
0
17
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
MA
lg
13
0
13
0.000
0.000
0
0
0
18
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
NE
sm
30
0
123
0
19
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
NE
lg
39
0
72
0
20
Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator
OPEN
all
NE
sm
104
0
321
0
21
Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator
OPEN
all
NE
lg
94
94
436
94
22
Otter Trawl, Shrimp
OPEN
all
MA
sm
65
0
437
23
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
MA
sm
40
0
242
0.000
0.000
0
0
0
24
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
MA
lg
44
0
460
0.000
0.000
0
0
0
25
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
NE
sm
58
0
229
0
26
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
NE
lg
22
0
113
0
27
Haul Seine, Beach
OPEN
all
NE
all
6
0
13
0
28
Floating Trap
OPEN
all
MA
all
10
0
16
0
29
Floating Trap
OPEN
all
NE
all
14
14
496
14
30
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
sm
13
13
1,239
0.175
0.018
0
0
13
31
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
lg
93
93
1,305
0.184
0.131
0
0
93
32
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
xlg
13
13
588
0.083
0.018
0
0
13
33
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
sm
7
7
7
0.001
0.010
0
0
7
34
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
lg
501
501
1,352
0.190
0.707
0
0
501
35
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
xlg
82
82
2,609
0.367
0.116
0
0
82
25
1,992
0
15
11
0.005
0.012
1
22
22
44
0
Table 5, continued. The number of sea days needed to monitor fish/invertebrates (FISH), loggerhead turtles (TURS), combined species groups
(COMBINED) by fleet (Steps 1 through 5); the number of funded sea days for April 2023 through March 2024 (Steps 6 and 7); and the differences
between needed and funded days (Step 8). See Appendix Table 1 for fleet stratification abbreviations.
Step 1
Fleet
Access
Area
Step 2
2023 Sea
Days Needed
for FISH
2023 Sea Days
Needed for FISH
ADJUSTED
Step 3
2023
Sea Days
Needed for
TURS
Step 4a
Vessel Trip
Report Sea
Days
341
Step 4b
% Vessel
Trip Report
Sea Days
Step 4c
Step 4d
Step 4e
Step 5
% Sea
Days
Needed
for FISH
Additional Sea
Days needed
for TURS
TURS Sea
Days by
FISH fleet
2023
Sea Days
Needed
COMBINED
13
36
Gear Type
Purse Seine
OPEN
Trip Cat.
all
Region
MA
Mesh
all
13
13
37
Purse Seine
OPEN
all
NE
all
10
10
38
Dredge, Scallop
AA
GEN
MA
all
15
15
653
440
39
Dredge, Scallop
AA
GEN
NE
all
91
91
5,331
91
40
Dredge, Scallop
AA
LIM
MA
all
128
128
3,324
128
41
Dredge, Scallop
AA
LIM
NE
all
350
350
13,297
350
42
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
MA
all
28
28
2,895
28
43
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
NE
all
93
93
3,221
93
44
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
LIM
MA
all
189
189
1,252
189
45
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
LIM
NE
all
717
717
46
Trawl, Midwater
all
all
NE
sm
23
23
8,305
84
717
23
47
Pots and Traps, Other
OPEN
all
NE
all
3
0
21
0
48
Pots and Traps, Fish
OPEN
all
MA
all
13
13
1,027
13
49
Pots and Traps, Fish
OPEN
all
NE
all
13
13
1,064
13
50
Pots and Traps, Eel
OPEN
all
NE
all
45
0
69
0
51
Pots and Traps, Conch
OPEN
all
MA
all
12
12
572
12
52
Pots and Traps, Conch
OPEN
all
NE
all
12
12
859
12
53
Pots and Traps, Lobster
OPEN
all
MA
all
20
20
1,396
20
54
Pots and Traps, Lobster
OPEN
all
NE
all
188
188
32,977
188
55
Pots and Traps, Crab
OPEN
all
NE
all
105
105
628
105
56
Beam Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
sm
3
3
59
3
57
Beam Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
sm
3
0
13
0
58
Beam Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
lg
9
0
9
0
59
Scottish Seine
OPEN
all
MA
sm
8
8
9
8
60
Dredge, Other
OPEN
all
MA
all
16
16
271
16
61
Dredge, Other
OPEN
all
NE
all
24
0
343
0
62
Dredge, Mussel
OPEN
all
NE
all
9
9
67
9
63
Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam
OPEN
all
MA
all
47
47
3,166
47
64
Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam
OPEN
all
NE
all
19
19
1,978
19
Row
26
10
15
Table 5, continued. The number of sea days needed to monitor fish/invertebrates (FISH), loggerhead turtles (TURS), combined species groups
(COMBINED) by fleet (Steps 1 through 5); the number of funded sea days for April 2023 through March 2024 (Steps 6 and 7); and the differences
between needed and funded days (Step 8). See Appendix Table 1 for fleet stratification abbreviations.
Step 1
Fleet
Row
Access
Area
Gear Type
Step
6
Trip Cat.
Region
2023 Sea
Days Needed
Mesh
for FISH
Total
7,238
Agency Fleets (Sea Days Needed)
Industry Fleets (Sea Days Needed)
Industry Fleets (Sea Days Funded)
Step
8
Agency Fleet Difference
Industry Fleet Difference
KEY: Agency-funded fleets
Turtle Gear Types
Step 3
2023 Sea Days
Needed for FISH
ADJUSTED
6,697
2023
Sea Days
Needed for
TURS
1,992
5,606
1,632
Agency Fleets (Sea Days Funded)
Agency Fleets (Sea Days Funded)
Step
7
Step 2
MA Trawl
Gillnet
Vessel Trip
Report Sea
Days
133,314
Step 4b
Step 4c
% Vessel
Trip Report
Sea Days
% Sea
Days
Needed
for FISH
Step 4d
Step 4e
Additional Sea TURS Sea
Days needed
Days by
for TURS
FISH fleet
5,065
1,632
Step 5
2023
Sea Days
Needed
COMBINED
6,926
5,293
1,633
Prioritized
Nonprioritized (MMPA and ESA) 18
3,373
561
1,696
SHORTFALL
SURPLUS
1,883
1,763
709
709
Industry-funded fleets
Fleets identified as "erroneous"
Steps used in sea day allocation
Fleets identified as “not applicable”
18
Step 4a
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA); Endangered Species Act (ESA)
27
1,992
0
12,565
229
7,100
709
Difference between taxa
229
0
1,992
0
-1,920
63
1,992
709
Table 6. The 2023 sea days needed (COMBINED; Step 5) and the information used in the penultimate approach to prioritize sea days to fleets for
agency-funded days that are applicable to the prioritization process (Steps 9.1 through 9.5). See Appendix Table 1 for fleet stratification
abbreviations.
Step 5
Fleet
Row Gear Type
Access
Area
2023 Sea
Days Needed
COMBINED
Step 9.1
Step 9.2
Penultimate sea days needed for the 15 species
groups, in descending order with minimum pilot
coverage as minimum for fleet
Step 9.3
Sea day differences between adjacent species
groups within a row (red font indicated values
used in Step 9.3)
Step 9.4
Sea day
differences, in
descending order Cumulative
with fleet
reduction of
constraint
sea days
2023 Sea Days
PRIORITIZED
(Penultimate)
Step 9.5
2023 Sea
Days
PRIORITIZED
(Penultimate)
Trip Cat. Region
Mesh
1
Longline, Bottom
OPEN
all
MA
all
92
92
0
483
483
92
92
2
Longline, Bottom
OPEN
all
NE
all
14
14
0
467
950
14
14
3
Hand Line
OPEN
all
MA
all
14
14
0
266
1,216
14
14
4
Hand Line
OPEN
all
NE
all
15
15
0
240
1,456
15
15
5
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
sm
1,483
1,388
804
170
1,626
1,483
1,483
6
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
lg
487
354
192
94
34
133
1,759
193
256
7
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
sm
892
425
381
309
1,920
425
425
8
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
lg
782
516
276
185
276
276
9
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel
OPEN
all
MA
lg
0
0
0
0
0
10
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel
OPEN
all
NE
sm
51
51
0
51
51
11
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel
OPEN
all
NE
lg
11
11
0
11
11
12
Otter Trawl, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
MA
lg
22
13
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
MA
sm
40
40
0
40
40
14
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
MA
lg
40
40
0
40
40
15
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
NE
sm
44
44
0
44
44
16
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
MA
sm
0
0
0
0
0
17
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
MA
lg
0
0
0
0
0
18
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
NE
sm
0
0
0
0
0
19
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
NE
lg
0
0
0
0
0
20
Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator
OPEN
all
NE
sm
0
0
0
0
0
21
Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator
OPEN
all
NE
lg
94
94
0
94
94
22
Otter Trawl, Shrimp
OPEN
all
MA
sm
0
0
0
0
0
23
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
MA
sm
0
0
0
0
0
24
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
MA
lg
0
0
0
0
0
25
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
NE
sm
0
0
0
0
0
26
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
NE
lg
0
0
0
0
0
27
Haul Seine, Beach
OPEN
all
NE
all
0
0
0
0
0
28
Floating Trap
OPEN
all
MA
all
0
0
0
0
0
29
Floating Trap
OPEN
all
NE
all
14
14
0
14
0
30
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
sm
13
13
0
13
13
31
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
lg
93
13
80
93
93
32
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
xlg
13
13
0
13
13
33
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
sm
7
7
0
7
7
34
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
lg
501
18
483
18
18
35
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
xlg
82
75
82
82
36
Purse Seine
OPEN
all
MA
all
13
0
13
0
37
Purse Seine
OPEN
all
NE
all
10
13
10
0
10
10
38
Dredge, Scallop
AA
GEN
MA
all
15
39
Dredge, Scallop
AA
GEN
NE
all
91
40
Dredge, Scallop
AA
LIM
MA
all
128
41
Dredge, Scallop
AA
LIM
NE
all
350
42
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
MA
all
28
43
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
NE
all
93
44
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
LIM
MA
all
189
45
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
LIM
NE
all
717
46
Trawl, Midwater
all
all
NE
sm
23
23
0
23
23
565
490
474
31
302
283
41
168
138
33
95
584
239
75
133
162
98
60
467
44
72
266
240
91
7
18
28
57
16
443
7
19
242
17
30
105
161 of 162
Table 6, continued. The 2023 sea days needed (COMBINED; Step 5) and the information used in the penultimate approach to prioritize sea days to
fleets for agency-funded days that are applicable to the prioritization process (Steps 9.1 through 9.5). See Appendix Table 1 for fleet stratification
abbreviations.
Step 5
Fleet
Row Gear Type
Access
Area
2023 Sea Days
Needed
COMBINED
Step 9.1
Step 9.2
Penultimate sea days needed for the 15 species
groups, in descending order with minimum pilot
coverage as minimum for fleet
Sea day differences between adjacent species
groups within a row (red font indicated values
used in Step 9.3)
Step 9.3
Sea day
differences, in
descending order Cumulative
with fleet
reduction of
constraint
sea days
Step 9.4
2023 Sea Days
PRIORITIZED
(Penultimate)
Step 9.5
2023 Sea
Days
PRIORITIZED
(Penultimate)
Trip Cat. Region
Mesh
47
Pots and Traps, Other
OPEN
all
NE
all
0
0
0
0
0
48
Pots and Traps, Fish
OPEN
all
MA
all
13
13
0
13
13
49
Pots and Traps, Fish
OPEN
all
NE
all
13
13
0
13
13
50
Pots and Traps, Eel
OPEN
all
NE
all
0
0
0
0
0
51
Pots and Traps, Conch
OPEN
all
MA
all
12
12
0
12
12
52
Pots and Traps, Conch
OPEN
all
NE
all
12
12
0
12
12
53
Pots and Traps, Lobster
OPEN
all
MA
all
20
20
0
20
20
54
Pots and Traps, Lobster
OPEN
all
NE
all
188
18
170
18
18
55
Pots and Traps, Crab
OPEN
all
NE
all
105
105
0
105
105
56
Beam Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
sm
3
3
0
3
0
57
Beam Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
sm
0
0
0
0
0
58
Beam Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
lg
0
0
0
0
0
59
Scottish Seine
OPEN
all
MA
sm
8
8
0
8
0
60
Dredge, Other
OPEN
all
MA
all
16
16
0
16
0
61
Dredge, Other
OPEN
all
NE
all
0
0
0
0
0
62
Dredge, Mussel
OPEN
all
NE
all
9
9
0
9
0
63
Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam
OPEN
all
MA
all
47
25
22
47
47
64
Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam
OPEN
all
NE
all
19
19
0
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
KEY: Agency-funded fleets
Fleets identified as "erroneous"
Steps used in sea day allocation
Fleets identified as “not applicable”
Total
Agency Fleets (Sea Days Needed)
Industry Fleets (Sea Days Needed)
Agency Fleets (Sea Days Funded)
Agency Fleets (Sea Days Funded)
Industry Fleets (Sea Days Funded)
Agency Fleet Difference
Industry Fleet Difference
Turtle Gear Types
MA Trawl
Gillnet
6,926
5,293
1,633
3,373
561
1,696
-1,920
63
1,992
709
Prioritized days
Nonprioritized days
Industry-funded scallop days
Industry-funded
fleets
Fleets with Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) Limitation
Fleets with reduction in sea days
29
19
19
3,373
3,373
Table 7. The 2023 sea days needed to monitor the combined species groups (COMBINED), prioritized days (Step 9.5), nonprioritized days (Step
10), industry-funded scallop days (Step 11), and observer sea days allocated for April 2023 through March 2024 (Step 12) by fleet. Note: * indicates
all coverage is dependent on industry activity (assigned via the Pre-Trip Notification System); ** indicates some coverage is dependent on
industry activity (assigned via the Pre-Trip Notification System); *** indicates coverage for protected species bycatch. NEFOP = Northeast
Fisheries Observer Program; (MMPA) Marine Mammal Protection Act; (ESA) Endangered Species Act. See Appendix Table 1 for fleet stratification
abbreviations.
Step 5
Fleet
Step 9.5
Step 11
Step 12
2023
Sea Days
nonprioritized
(MMPA and ESA)
2023
Sea Days
Industryfunded
Scallop
Sea Days
Allocated for
April 2023 March 2024
(TOTAL)
Gear Type
Access
Area
Trip Cat.
Region
Mesh
2023
Sea Days
Needed
COMBINED
1
Longline, Bottom
OPEN
all
MA
all
92
92
92
Fish stock assessment support
2
Longline, Bottom
OPEN
all
NE
all
14
14
14
Fish stock assessment support **
3
Hand Line
OPEN
all
MA
all
14
14
14
Fish stock assessment support
4
Hand Line
OPEN
all
NE
all
15
15
15
Fish stock assessment support
5
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
sm
1,483
1,483
1,483
6
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
lg
487
256
256
Fish stock assessment and turtle bycatch support **
7
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
sm
892
425
425
Fish stock assessment support **
8
Otter Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
lg
782
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel
OPEN
all
MA
lg
0
276
0
Fish stock assessment support **
9
276
0
10
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel
OPEN
all
NE
sm
51
51
51
Fish stock assessment support
11
Otter Trawl, LgMesh Belly Panel
OPEN
all
NE
lg
11
11
11
Fish stock assessment support
12
Otter Trawl, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
MA
lg
22
13
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
MA
sm
40
40
40
Fish stock assessment support
14
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
MA
lg
40
40
40
Fish stock assessment support
15
Otter Trawl, Twin
OPEN
all
NE
sm
44
44
44
Fish stock assessment support
16
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
MA
sm
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
17
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
MA
lg
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
18
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
NE
sm
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
19
Otter Trawl, Ruhle
OPEN
all
NE
lg
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
20
Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator
OPEN
all
NE
sm
0
0
0
Fleet removed (not applicable)
21
Otter Trawl, Haddock Separator
OPEN
all
NE
lg
94
94
94
Fish stock assessment support *
22
Otter Trawl, Shrimp
OPEN
all
MA
sm
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
23
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
MA
sm
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
24
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
MA
lg
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
25
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
NE
sm
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
26
Otter Trawl, Other
OPEN
all
NE
lg
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
27
Haul Seine, Beach
OPEN
all
NE
all
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
28
Floating Trap
OPEN
all
MA
all
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
29
Floating Trap
OPEN
all
NE
all
14
0
0
Fleet removed (NEFOP limitation)
30
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
sm
13
13
13
Fish stock assessment and turtle bycatch support
31
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
lg
93
93
93
Fish stock assessment and turtle bycatch support
32
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
MA
xlg
13
13
13
Fish stock assessment and turtle bycatch support
33
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
sm
7
7
7
Fish stock assessment and turtle bycatch support
34
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
lg
501
18
18
Fish stock assessment and turtle bycatch support**
35
Gillnet, Sink, Anchor, Drift
OPEN
all
NE
xlg
82
82
82
Fish stock assessment and turtle bycatch support**
Row
2023
Sea Days
PRIORITIZED
(Penultimate)
Step 10
Comments
Fish stock assessment and turtle bycatch support
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
Industry-funded scallop * (see Row 42 )
30
Table 7, continued. The 2023 sea days needed to monitor the combined species groups (COMBINED), prioritized days (Step 9.5), nonprioritized
days (Step 10), industry-funded scallop days (Step 11), and observer sea days allocated for April 2023 through March 2024 (Step 12) by fleet.
Note: * indicates all coverage is dependent on industry activity (assigned via the Pre-Trip Notification System); ** indicates some coverage is
dependent on industry activity (assigned via the Pre-Trip Notification System); *** indicates coverage for protected species bycatch. NEFOP =
Northeast Fisheries Observer Program; (MMPA) Marine Mammal Protection Act; (ESA) Endangered Species Act. See Appendix Table 1 for fleet
stratification abbreviations.
Fleet
Step 5
Step 9.5
2023
Sea Days
PRIORITIZED
(Penultimate)
Step 10
Step 11
2023
2023
Sea Days
Sea Days
Industrynonprioritized
funded
(MMPA and ESA) Scallop
Step 12
Sea Days
Allocated for
April 2023 March 2024
(TOTAL)
Gear Type
Access
Area
Trip Cat.
Region
Mesh
2023
Sea Days
Needed
COMBINED
36
Purse Seine
OPEN
all
MA
all
13
0
37
Purse Seine
OPEN
all
NE
all
10
10
38
Dredge, Scallop
AA
GEN
MA
all
15
39
Dredge, Scallop
AA
GEN
NE
all
91
40
Dredge, Scallop
AA
LIM
MA
all
128
41
Dredge, Scallop
AA
LIM
NE
all
350
42
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
MA
all
28
43
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
GEN
NE
all
93
44
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
LIM
MA
all
189
45
Dredge, Scallop
OPEN
LIM
NE
all
717
46
Trawl, Midwater
all
all
NE
sm
23
23
23
Fish stock assessment support *
47
Pots and Traps, Other
OPEN
all
NE
all
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
48
Pots and Traps, Fish
OPEN
all
MA
all
13
13
13
Fish stock assessment support
49
Pots and Traps, Fish
OPEN
all
NE
all
13
13
13
Fish stock assessment support
50
Pots and Traps, Eel
OPEN
all
NE
all
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
51
Pots and Traps, Conch
OPEN
all
MA
all
12
12
12
Fish stock assessment support
52
Pots and Traps, Conch
OPEN
all
NE
all
12
12
12
Fish stock assessment support
53
Pots and Traps, Lobster
OPEN
all
MA
all
20
20
20
Fish stock assessment support
54
Pots and Traps, Lobster
OPEN
all
NE
all
188
18
18
Fish stock assessment support
55
Pots and Traps, Crab
OPEN
all
NE
all
105
105
105
Fish stock assessment support
56
Beam Trawl
OPEN
all
MA
sm
3
0
0
Fleet removed (NEFOP limitation)
57
Beam Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
sm
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
58
Beam Trawl
OPEN
all
NE
lg
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
59
Scottish Seine
OPEN
all
MA
sm
8
0
0
Fleet removed (NEFOP limitation)
60
Dredge, Other
OPEN
all
MA
all
16
0
0
Fleet removed (NEFOP limitation)
61
Dredge, Other
OPEN
all
NE
all
0
0
0
Fleet removed (erroneous fleet)
62
Dredge, Mussel
OPEN
all
NE
all
9
0
0
Fleet removed (NEFOP limitation)
63
Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam
OPEN
all
MA
all
47
47
47
Fish stock assessment support
64
Dredge, Ocean Quahog/Surfclam
MMPA coverage
MMPA analysis
ESA coverage
OPEN
all
NE
all
19
19
19
350
166
45
Fish stock assessment support
Coverage associated with Rows 30-35***
Observer data analysis support
Coverage associated with Rows 31-32***
Row
Comments
0
Fleet removed (NEFOP limitation)
10
68
Fish stock assessment support **
68
572
572
Industry-funded scallop * (Rows 39 & 41 )
Industry-funded scallop * (Rows 38 & 40 )
Industry-funded scallop * (see Row 38 )
Industry-funded scallop * (see Row 39 )
150
150
906
906
Industry-funded scallop * (Rows 12, 42, & 43 )
Industry-funded scallop * (see Row 42 )
Industry-funded scallop * (Rows 44 & 45 )
Industry-funded scallop * (see Row 44 )
31
350
166
45
Table 7, continued. The 2023 sea days needed to monitor the combined species groups (COMBINED), prioritized days (Step 9.5), nonprioritized
days (Step 10), industry-funded scallop days (Step 11), and observer sea days allocated for April 2023 through March 2024 (Step 12) by fleet.
Note: * indicates all coverage is dependent on industry activity (assigned via the Pre-Trip Notification System); ** indicates some coverage is
dependent on industry activity (assigned via the Pre-Trip Notification System); *** indicates coverage for protected species bycatch. NEFOP =
Northeast Fisheries Observer Program; (MMPA) Marine Mammal Protection Act; (ESA) Endangered Species Act. See Appendix Table 1 for fleet
stratification abbreviations.
Step 5
Fleet
Row
Access
Area
Gear Type
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Trip Cat.
Region
Agency Fleets (Sea Days Needed)
Total
2023
Sea Days
Needed
COMBINED
2023
Sea Days
PRIORITIZED
(Penultimate)
6,926
5,293
3,373
Industry Fleets (Sea Days Needed)
1,633
Agency Fleets (Sea Days Funded)
Agency Fleets (Sea Days Funded)
3,373
561
Industry Fleets (Sea Days Funded)
Agency Fleet Difference
Industry Fleet Difference
Turtle Gear Types
KEY: Agency-funded fleets
Fleets identified as "erroneous"
Steps used in sea day allocation
Fleets identified as “not applicable”
Mesh
MA Trawl
Gillnet
Step 9.5
1,696
-1,920
63
Step 10
Step 11
2023
2023
Sea Days
Sea Days
Industrynonprioritized
funded
(MMPA and ESA) Scallop
561
1,696
Step 12
Sea Days
Allocated for
April 2023 March 2024
(TOTAL)
5,630
Prioritized days
3,373
Nonprioritized days
Industry-funded scallop days
561
1,696
1,992
709
Industry-funded fleets
Fleets with Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) Limitation
Fleets with reduction in sea days
32
Comments
Appendix Table 1. Stratification abbreviations used for 2023 fleets.
Abbreviation
NE
MA
Sm
Lg
Xlg
AA
OPEN
GEN
LIM
Definition
New England ports (RI and northward)
Mid-Atlantic ports (CT and southward)
Small mesh (less than 5.50 in)
Large mesh (from 5.50 to 7.99 in for gillnet; 5.50 in and greater for trawl)
Extra large mesh (8.00 in and greater for gillnet)
Access
Nonaccess area
General category
Limited access category
33
Procedures for Issuing Manuscripts
in Northeast Fisheries Science Center In-house Publication Series
NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is responsible for the stewardship
of the nation's ocean resources and their habitat. We provide vital services for the nation, all
backed by sound science and an ecosystem-based approach to management. As the research
arm of NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Region, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center
(NEFSC) supports the agency’s mission by providing the scientific information needed to ensure
productive, sustainable, and healthy marine ecosystems and coastal communities in our region.
Results of NEFSC research are largely reported in anonymously peer-reviewed scientific
journals. However, to assist itself in providing data, information, and advice to its constituents,
the NEFSC occasionally releases results in one of two in-house publication series.
NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-NE –The series typically includes: data reports of longterm field or lab studies of important species or habitats; synthesis reports for important species
or habitats; annual reports of overall assessment or monitoring programs; manuals describing
program-wide surveying or experimental techniques; literature surveys of important species or
habitat topics; proceedings and collected papers of scientific meetings; and indexed and/or
annotated bibliographies. All issues receive internal scientific review, and most issues receive
technical and copy editing. Technical memoranda are citable.
Northeast Fisheries Science Center Reference Document This series typically includes: data
reports on field and lab studies; progress reports on experiments, monitoring, and assessments;
background papers for, collected abstracts of, and/or summary reports of scientific meetings;
and simple bibliographies. Issues receive internal scientific review, and most issues receive
copy editing. The reference document is not considered a citable document by NOAA Fisheries.
CLEARANCE
All manuscripts submitted for the reference document or technical memoranda series must have
a NOAA Fisheries affiliated author and clear the NOAA Fisheries online internal review process.
If you need an account, or assistance in navigating the review process, contact the Editorial
Office.
STYLE AUTHORITIES
Manuscript style: Our Editorial Office primarily relies on the CSE Style Manual and secondarily
on the Chicago Manual of Style and the Government Printing Office Style Manual. Manuscripts
should be prepared accordingly.
Species names: Refer to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System, the American
Fisheries Society’s guides, and the Society for Marine Mammalogy’s list of marine species and
subspecies.
Geographic names: Use the US Geological Survey (USGS) Geographic Names Information
System (GNIS) as an authority for official place names in the United States.
In text citations: Use the name-date system.
References cited: A special effort should be made to ensure all necessary bibliographic
information is included in the list of references cited. Personal communications must include the
date, full name, and full mailing address of the contact.
508 compliance: All issues in the series must be 508 compliant so that disabled employees
and members of the public have access to your document comparable to the access available
to others, usually through a machine reader. It is much easier to build a 508 compliant
document from the beginning than it is to make it compliant after it is ready for publication. If you
need help understanding the requirement or formatting your document so that it is 508
compliant, contact the Editorial Office for resources and assistance.
EDITORIAL OFFICE SUBMISSION
Once your document has cleared the review process, the Editorial Office will contact you to
ensure they have the most recent draft of your manuscript and may require separate digital files
and tables if they are embedded in the document. Materials may be submitted to the Editorial
Office as email attachments or uploaded to the Research Publication Tracking System (RPTS).
Text files should be in Microsoft Word, tables may be in Word or Excel, and image files may be
in a variety of formats (JPG, GIF, etc.).
PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION
The Editorial Office will perform a copy edit of the document and may request further revisions.
Once the manuscript is ready, the Editorial Office will contact you to review and submit
corrections or changes before the document is posted online. The Editorial Office will develop
the inside and outside front covers, the inside and outside back covers, and the title and
bibliographic control pages of the document.
A number of organizations and individuals in the Northeast Region will be notified by email of
the availability of the document online. The Editorial Office will submit your document to the
NOAA Institutional Repository and update the NOAA Fisheries manuscript review system when
a DOI is available.
| File Type | application/pdf |
| File Title | 2023 SBRM Annual Discard Report with Observer Sea Day Allocation |
| Author | NEFSC and GARFO |
| File Modified | 2023-12-14 |
| File Created | 2023-07-14 |