April 8, 2015 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
The Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center of NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service have worked together to calculate the initial observer set-aside compensation rate for fishing year 2015. The effective date for these rates in March 1, 2015.
We will revisit these rates in May if Framework Adjustment 26 is approved and implemented to see if any mid-year adjustments are necessary.
The compensation rate for open areas for limited access vessels fishing under days-at-sea (DAS) is 0.08 DAS per DAS fished (the vessel is charged 0.92 DAS for each DAS fished with an observer onboard). This rate allows the fishery to achieve the needed observer days for the Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology requirements. The current rate is a slight increase in the compensation rate from last year but is equivalent to the compensation rate in fishing years 2012 and 2013.
Read the complete Bulletin online, or get more information about the Atlantic Sea Scallop Fishery on our website.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-9175 or email Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.