Exempted Fishery (EFP) Program

The Exempted Fishery Program issues Exempted Fishery Permits (EFPs) for activities in support of fisheries-related research, including seafood product development and/or market research, compensation fishing, and the collection of fish for public display.

This program authorizes a fishing vessel of the United States to conduct fishing activities that would be otherwise prohibited under the regulations at 50 CFR part 648 or part 697.

In addition to standard trip reporting requirements, vessels participating in the Exempted Fishery Program must call into the IVR system at the start and end of each trip.

When operating under an EFP, vessels are subject to additional reporting requirements in addition to those already required by the fishery in which they are participating. Vessels operating under an EFP are considered to be on a commercial fishing trip.

Fisheries Data Services Division (FDSD)

55 Great Republic Drive

IVR reports are considered to be business confidential and may not be released without signed approval of the permit holder on record for the time period requested.

Access to IVR data is governed by 50CFR600 - Confidentiality of Information. Access by state fishery management agency staff and Fisheries Management Council staff may be allowed through Memorandum of Understanding that are signed by the NE Regional Administrator and Directors of the State Agency or Councils that describe the need and uses of the data and list the individuals who will have access to the data. Contractors may be granted access provided they are working under contract to NOAA or a cooperating partner (state, Council, Commission) on a specific project under the oversight of a partner.

Contact POC to request access.

Access is restricted to personnel authorized in accordance with NOAA Administrative Order 216-100. A signed non-disclosure agreement must be on file for all authorized personnel. The APSD Data Request staff are the POC for non-disclosure forms.

Access to individual reports is restricted to NOAA employees and our partners who have signed non-disclosure agreements. Summary data may be made available based on the "rule of 3", i.e., there must be at least three entities included in a summary for the summary information to be made publically available. Data may be made available if there is no information included that could uniquely link the information to an individual entity (person, vessel operating unit, business, etc.). Individually identifiable information may not be released without written authorization from the provider or by court order.

There are no constraints on the use of the metadata associated with this program.

Oracle database. The original data is stored with an offsite contractor in charge of maintaining the IVR call in system and data.

Data is considered representative of the EFP program.

IVR Reported data is considered a hail or 'best estimate' of what the vessel landed. Vessel Trip Reports or dealer reported data should be used for more accurate reporting totals.

IVR reported data can be considered complete within the boundaries of IVR reporting requirements. Vessel Trip Reports or dealer reported data should be used for more accurate reporting totals.