Dan Hull, Chairman
David Witherell, Executive Director
SUBJECT: title
Observer and Electronic Monitoring Projects (including EM and Observer prioritization, outline for raising the fee analysis, observer insurance tech memo, observer safety program review)
end
STAFF CONTACT: Diana Evans and Elizabeth Figus (NPFMC)
ACTION REQUIRED: recommended action
a) National Observer Program update on observer provider insurance and the national Observer Safety Program Review.
b) Prioritize next areas for Electronic Monitoring (EM) development.
c) Review update on the analysis to raise the observer partial coverage fee; adopt purpose and need, and alternatives.
d) Review and provide feedback on Observer Tasking list.
body
BACKGROUND:
a) National Observer Program update on observer provider insurance and the national Observer Safety Program Review
A representative from the National Observer Program (NOP), Elizabeth Chilton, will provide an update on two issues of interest to the Council. First, the NOP recently released an Observer Provider Insurance Technical Memo in December 2017, which summarizes the discussions from a November 2016 workshop and May 2017 follow-up webinar. The workshop was initiated partially in response to the Council's request with respect to how to address conflicting regulations regarding observer provider insurance requirements at regional and national levels. The memo is available at https://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/TMSPO176final.pdf. Ms. Chilton will provide an update on the NOP's plans to develop national guidelines for appropriate observer provider insurance requirements, which are directly relevant to the Council's initiation of an amendment to adjust those requirements in our regulations.
The second issue on which Ms. Chilton will update the Council is the completion of the Observer Safety Program Review. The agency aims to have the final report released either during the Council meeting or shortly thereafter. Ms. Chilton...
Click here for full text