ODDS Vessel Selection

Vessels in the vessel-selection stratum will be randomly selected for mandatory observer coverage

approximately 30 days prior to the start of each calendar quarter. Owners of selected vessels will be

notified through the U.S. postal service of their selection, given contact information for their observer

provider, and given a username and password. This information can be used to access a vessel-selection

survey that provides a way for owners of vessels that have been selected for observer coverage in the

vessel-selection stratum to verify their contact and vessel information and provides a forum for

communication with NMFS. The vessel-selection survey will be available online or by phone if the vessel

owner chooses. Owners will be asked to provide their intent to fish in the upcoming quarter to improve

the logistical efficiency of observer assignment and deployment in this stratum3

Vessel selection systems similar to that proposed for the vessel selection stratum have been successfully

implemented elsewhere in the nation such as in the Northwest Groundfish Observer Program. These

systems work to reduce the logistical complexities associated with having large amounts of participants.

However, because the number of vessels that can be observed is likely to be low relative to the total

number of vessels in the sample population and to reduce the operator?s ability to manipulate fishing

events (for example by not fishing at all if selected) there is a need to increase the duration of observer

coverage for selected vessels. This ADP adopts the duration of a calendar quarter for selected vessels in

this stratum. Therefore, selected vessels in this stratum will be responsible for carrying an observer for all

of its fishing during the quarter for which they have been selected by working directly with their observer

. In addition, the survey

will provide owners of vessels with a way to provide a rationale as to why their vessel may not be able to

accommodate an observer. Answers to these two questions will be needed by NMFS a minimum of two

weeks prior to the vessels? first fishing trip of the quarter of selection in order to provide time for

scheduling and conducting an on-site evaluation by NMFS. NMFS will assume the vessel intends to fish

and can accommodate an observer in cases where they have not received a response to the vesselselection

survey from a vessel operator.

Vessel selection systems similar to that proposed for the vessel selection stratum have been successfully

implemented elsewhere in the nation such as in the Northwest Groundfish Observer Program. These

systems work to reduce the logistical complexities associated with having large amounts of participants.

However, because the number of vessels that can be observed is likely to be low relative to the total

number of vessels in the sample population and to reduce the operator?s ability to manipulate fishing

events (for example by not fishing at all if selected) there is a need to increase the duration of observer

coverage for selected vessels. This ADP adopts the duration of a calendar quarter for selected vessels in

this stratum. Therefore, selected vessels in this stratum will be responsible for carrying an observer for all

of its fishing during the quarter for which they have been selected by working directly with their observer provider. In this ADP, if any portion of a trip falls within a calendar quarter for which the vessel was

selected the entire trip will be subject to observer coverage. The duration of coverage in this ADP will

help the observer program obtain data from as many of the target fisheries, locations, and times the vessel

participates in, was proposed to the Council in documents between 2010 and present, and was first presented to the Council?s Observer Advisory Committee in September of 2011.