June 4, 2015 — NOAA Fisheries has completed the first fleet-wide implementation of electronic monitoring in the United States.
As of June, electronic monitoring is required on all vessels fishing with pelagic longline gear in the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. Electronic monitoring is intended to provide an effective and efficient way to monitor and verify Atlantic bluefin tuna catches in the pelagic longline fishery.
Observer costs for total coverage are prohibitive and would be burdensome on vessel owners due to limited space on vessels and logistical coordination issues.
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