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2023 Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology: Annual Discard Report with Observer Sea Day Allocation
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2023
[PDF-1.12 MB]
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Description:This document contains a compilation of the information to meet the 2023 Standardized Bycatch Reporting Methodology (SBRM) annual discard report requirements. For fish and invertebrate species groups, several of the required annual discard report elements (discards and precision by fleet) can be found in McAfee and Wigley 2023, along with a description of the data sources, methods, results, and discussion. Similarly, for sea turtles, further information can be found in Murray 2012, 2020, and 2023.
The sea days needed to monitor the 15 SBRM species groups (14 fish/invertebrates species groups and 1 sea turtle species) for April 2023 through March 2024 are based on July 2021 through June 2022 data. Of the 6,926 sea days, 5,293 sea days are needed for agency-funded fleets, and 1,633 sea days are needed for industry-funded scallop fleets.
The funds available to the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s Fisheries Monitoring and Operations Branch in fiscal year (FY) 2023 are estimated to provide support for 2,099 days, and 1,835 days are carried over (i.e., bought ahead) from FY2022 funds for a total of 3,934 days (3,373 prioritized days + 561 nonprioritized days) for April 2023 through March 2024. Based upon the 2023 observer set-aside compensation rate analysis for the Industry Funded Scallop Program, there is industry funding for 1,696 days. Hence, 5,630 days are available for observer coverage for April 2023 through March 2024.
Within the agency-funded fleets and prioritization-applicable funding, a shortfall of 1,920 (5,293 – 3,373) days is expected. The 2023 funding shortfall triggers the SBRM prioritization process; the penultimate approach is utilized with a portion of the agency funds. Practical limitations prevent the observer program from covering 63 sea days associated with 6 fleets. These 63 sea days have been reallocated to the last fleet impacted by the prioritization process. The numbers of sea days allocated by fleet (where a fleet represents gear type, access area, trip category, region, and mesh group combinations) are given for April 2023 through March 2024.
There is a pending SBRM framework action to expand the sampling frame for the Mid-Atlantic and New England lobster pot fleets. When the framework action is implemented, then beginning in the calendar quarter following the implementation date, all active federal lobster vessels may be eligible for selection to take an observer, regardless of whether they are required to submit Vessel Trip Reports (VTR). Additionally, the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office has published a proposed rule to implement a requirement for electronic VTR submissions for all vessels in the lobster industry. Either scenario would expand the sampling frame for lobster pot fleets once they go into effect.
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Rights Information:CC0 Public Domain
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