Dan Hull, Chairman
David Witherell, Executive Director
SUBJECT: title
2017 Observer Program Annual Report and OAC Report - Review
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STAFF CONTACT: Elizabeth Figus (NPFMC), Jennifer Mondragon and Jennifer Ferdinand (NMFS)
ACTION REQUIRED: recommended action
• Review the Observer Program Annual Report for 2017
• Receive OAC Report, action as necessary
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BACKGROUND:
a) Observer program Annual Report for 2017
The North Pacific Observer Program 2017 Annual Report was distributed to the Council in mid-May and is attached here. The report provides a scientific evaluation of the deployment of observers in 2017, to assess whether the objectives of the Observer Program have been met. The report also includes descriptive information on the program, including enforcement trends and outreach efforts, and agency recommendations for the 2019 Annual Deployment Plan, which will be developed over the summer.
b) OAC Report
The Observer Advisory Committee met on May 16-17, 2018, in Seattle, and their report is attached here. The Committee reviewed the Observer Program 2017 Annual Report and discussed the status of analytical projects affecting the Observer Program, and their relative priorities. The Committee also received a presentation from the National Observer Program about the draft EM Cost Allocation Procedural Directive. Finally, the Committee reviewed staff work on the observer fee analysis, which is scheduled for Council initial review in December 2018. Materials for discussion at the Committee are posted on the Council’s website, at <https://www.npfmc.org/observer-program/>. The Committee’s recommendations on all issues are included in the OAC report.