(a) Applicability. The owner and operator of a vessel named on an LLP license with a Pacific cod catcher/processor pot gear endorsement for the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands or both the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands subareas (BSAI) must comply with the requirements of this section when using pot gear for groundfish fishing as a catcher/processor in the Bering Sea or Aleutian Islands.

(b) Pre-cruise meeting. The Observer Program must be notified by phone at 1 (907) 581-2060 (Dutch Harbor, AK) or 1 (907) 481-1770 (Kodiak, AK) at least 24 hours prior to departure when the vessel will be carrying an observer who has not previously been deployed on that vessel within the last 12 months. Subsequent to the vessel's departure notification, but prior to departure, NMFS may contact the vessel to arrange for a pre-cruise meeting. If requested by NMFS, the pre-cruise meeting must minimally include the vessel operator or manager and any observers assigned to the vessel.

(c) Additional monitoring options. The owner or operator of a vessel subject to this section may choose any, all, or none of the following monitoring options described in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this section. Should an owner or operator choose any of these monitoring options, the owner and operator must comply with the applicable requirements described in paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this section.

(1) Observer sampling station option. Under this option, an observer sampling station meeting the requirements at § 679.28(d), unless otherwise approved by NMFS, must be provided for observer use. This option is selected by obtaining an Observer Sampling Station Inspection Report as detailed in § 679.28(d)(10)(iii) and will remain in place for the 12-month duration approved in the Observer Sampling Station Inspection Report.

(2) Increased observer coverage option. Under this option, if two observers are aboard the vessel meeting the requirements at § 679.51(a)(2)(vi)(H)(2), at least one of the observers must be endorsed as a Level 2 observer in accordance with § 679.53(a)(5)(iv).

(3) NMFS-approved total catch weighing scales option. Under this option, a vessel owner and operator may install a NMFS-approved scale for weighing total catch of Pacific cod. This option is selected by obtaining a Scale Inspection Report as detailed in § 679.28(b)(2)(vii) and will remain in place for the 12-month duration approved in the Scale Inspection Report. Under this option—

(i) A vessel owner and operator with an approved Scale Inspection Report must ensure that—

(A) All Pacific cod brought on board the vessel is weighed on a NMFS-approved scale in compliance with the scale requirements at § 679.28(b), and that each set is weighed and recorded separately;

(B) The vessel is in compliance with the video monitoring requirements described at § 679.28(k); and

(C) The vessel is in compliance with the requirements for electronic logbooks at § 679.5(f) at all times during that year.

(ii) [Reserved]

[88 FR 77232, Nov. 9, 2023]