Ad Hoc Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee to meet May 26, 2020

The Pacific Fishery Management Council’s Ad Hoc Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy Advisory Committee and Technical Advisory Committee (Committees) will hold an online meeting, which is open to the public.  The meeting will be held Tuesday, May 26, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Pacific Daylight Time, or until business for the day is completed.

2019: Third-party video review discussed

In April 2019 the Council scheduled electronic monitoring (EM) items for the June, September, and November 2019 Council meetings and recommended the Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy Advisory Committee (GEMPAC) meet as necessary to review National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) procedural directives and program guidance documents. In September the Council recommended that NMFS consider changes to […]

2018: Review of draft procedural directive, extension of EFP

In June the Council reviewed the draft procedural directive on cost allocation in electronic monitoring programs and drafted a letter providing comments and requesting additional time for advisory body review and comment on the policy. In September the Council submitted the comments to NMFS. In November the Council recommended an extension of the electronic monitoring […]

2017: Final preferred alternative for non-whiting midwater trawl and bottom trawl fisheries

The Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Policy Advisory Committee (GEMPAC) and Groundfish Electronic Monitoring Technical Advisory Committee (GEMTAC) met via webinar twice in early 2017 to discuss final recommendations for an electronic monitoring program for the non-whiting midwater trawl fishery for rockfish, as well as the bottom trawl fishery. The GEMPAC revised its preferred alternatives it selected […]

2016 Electronic monitoring actions

In March, the Council received an update on individual fishing quota fixed-gear and bottom trawl exempted fishing permit (EFP) activity. The Council extended the expiration date of the electronic monitoring EFPs for the bottom trawl, non-whiting mid-water trawl, whiting mid-water trawl, and fixed gear catch share fisheries through 2018. The EFPs were to end when […]

2015: Council looks at electronic monitoring for whiting and fixed-gear IFQ fleets

The Council received a report, cost analysis, and draft regulations for an electronic monitoring program for the whiting midwater trawl fishery in November. The Council confirmed its final preferred alternatives for the whiting fishery at the same meeting. The Council’s intent was to have regulations applicable fleet-wide in place by the 2017 season (May 15, […]

2014: Final preferred alternatives developed

In April 2014 the Council heard an update on the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission study on electronic monitoring, received a new draft analysis of alternatives, and reviewed exempted fishing permit (EFP) applications. The Council approved preliminary EFPs and asked that applicants consider resubmitting applications in June with certain alternations, mainly limiting the number of […]

2013: GEMPAC and GEMTAC created, alternatives developed

In 2013 the Council continued to consider the use of electronic monitoring for the trawl catch share program. The Council decided the program would focus on monitoring the compliance required for individual accountability of catch and discard, as opposed to biological data collection or other scientific monitoring (such protected species interactions). In April, the Council […]

2013: Electronic Monitoring workshop meeting materials

The following are the materials distributed from the Council workshop on electronic monitoring for vessels participating in the groundfish trawl catch share program. Download them all as one file. Workshop Agenda Item Attachment Title A.2 Attachment 1 Terms of Reference for the Pacific Council Workshop on Electronic Monitoring for Vessels Participating in the Groundfish Trawl […]

2012: Public scoping begins

In November 2012, the Council passed a motion to begin the public scoping process for electronic monitoring. A workshop was held in February, 2013 to begin developing electronic monitoring policy for the trawl catch share program. In 2012, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission received funds to test the feasibility of using electronic monitoring for catch […]