If you are not currently an approved at-sea monitoring provider and you would like to provide at-sea monitoring services to sectors in fishing year 2020 (May 1, 2020, through April 30, 2021), you must submit an application by October 1, 2019. Companies already approved to provide at-sea monitoring services in fishing years 2019 and 2020 do not need to apply again in order to provide services in 2020. Applications must include a cover letter, as well as the information and statements identified in the regulations. The regulations for at-sea monitoring providers and operational standards are located at 50 CFR part 648.87(b)(4) and 648.87(b)(5). If you would like to request a copy of these regulations, please contact Maria Fenton at (978) 281-9196.
Last year, we announced the deadline for applications to provide at-sea monitoring services to groundfish sectors in fishing years 2019 and 2020. At that time, we announced that there would be a subsequent opportunity to apply to provide services only in fishing year 2020. Applications under this announcement will be reviewed, and provider approvals will cover fishing year 2020 (May 1, 2020, through April 30, 2021). There will be a future opportunity to apply for a two-year approval to provide services in fishing years 2021 and 2022.
We will review all applications in accordance with the monitoring provider standards [50 CFR 648.87(b)(4)]. Please review the regulations carefully, particularly the requirements for signed statements. To help fulfill the requirement to submit evidence of adequate insurance, we are providing a Verification of Insurance Coverage of At-Sea Monitors form to include in your application package (Download File).
If we receive any provider applications under this announcement, decisions will be published in the Federal Register this fall.
Please submit the requested documents by October 1, 2019, to:
NOAA Fisheries
Sustainable Fisheries Division
Attn: Maria Fenton
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930
For small entity compliance guides, this bulletin complies with section 212 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement and Fairness Act of 1996. This notice is authorized by the Regional Administrator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, Greater Atlantic Region.
