Final Regulatory Impact Review for Proposed Regulatory Amendment to Address the Potential for a Shortage of Nontrawl Lead Level 2 Observers

This Regulatory Impact Review examines the benefits and costs of alternatives to address the potential for a shortage of lead level 2 endorsed observers for deployment on freezer longline vessels. This applies to the groundfish fisheries of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (BSAI) and Gulf of Alaska, and pot catcher/processors participating in the Western Alaska Community Development Quota (CDQ) program.

Freezer longline vessels subject to monitoring requirements defined at 50 CFR 679.100 and operating under the scales option are required to have one LL2 endorsed observer on board at all times when the Pacific cod fishery is open in the BSAI. Pot catcher/processors are required to have one LL2 observer when groundfish CDQ fishing. Vessel owners and observer coverage providers have reported ongoing shortages of  lead level 2 observers. This causes a delay in fishing trips and increases the costs of providing observers the opportunity to gain the experience needed to qualify as a lead level 2 observer.

This review analyzes alternatives that would allow regulatory exceptions and create additional opportunities for observers to gain the necessary experience, or create alternate observer coverage requirements that would allow a vessel to conduct fishing activity without a lead level 2 observer on board. In addition to the primary action, the review also analyzes the impact of additional regulatory changes to observer coverage and reporting requirements for motherships and catcher/processors participating in CDQ program fisheries.