North Pacific Observer Program Standard Ex-Vessel Prices for Groundfish and Halibut - Federal Register Rules and Notices

NOAA Fisheries publishes standard ex-vessel prices for groundfish and halibut for the calculation of the observer fee under the North Pacific Observer Program. These notices are intended to provide information to vessel owners, processors, registered buyers, and other participants about the standard ex-vessel prices that will be used to calculate the observer fee for landings of groundfish and halibut. NOAA Fisheries will send invoices to processors and registered buyers subject to the fee. Fees are due to NOAA Fisheries on or before the date in the notice.

In 2012, NOAA Fisheries published regulations to implement Amendment 86 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Management Area and Amendment 76 to the Fishery Management Plan for Groundfish of the Gulf of Alaska (Amendments 86/76). Amendments 86/76 added a funding and deployment system for observer coverage to the existing North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program and amended existing observer coverage requirements for vessels and processing plants. The new funding and deployment system allows NOAA Fisheries to determine when and where to deploy observers according to management and conservation needs, with funds provided through a system of fees based on the ex-vessel value of groundfish and halibut in fisheries covered by the new system.