Sometimes we do win!!!!! Good News!!!!!

[BasicPatrick]

As you all know, in mid-September NMFS published a Proposed Rule regarding midwater trawl access to Groundfish Closed Area I which was aimed at the issue of monitoring. This was a result of a lot of work by a lot of concerned people and was based on the concerns raised by incidents of haddock bycatch in the closed area in recent years. I wanted to let you all know that this past week the Final Rule was published in the Federal Register and it included many of the things that CHOIR has been asking for, including 100% observer coverage!

Here are the three major rule changes put in place by the FR, effective November 2nd:

- 100 percent observer coverage
- Prohibition on slipped codends (dumped nets), and
- Requirement that all fish be pumped aboard to allow sampling by the observer.

There were some exceptions to these rules, based on safety concerns or mechanical failures, but the Federal Rule requires that if any fish are dumped without sampling as a result of these exceptions that "the vessel operator must complete and sign a CA I Midwater Trawl Released Codend Affidavit detailing where, when, and why the net was released as well as a good-faith estimate of both the total weight of fish caught on that tow and the weight of fish released (if the tow had been partially pumped). The completed affidavit form must be submitted to NMFS within 48 hr of the completion of the trip."

While some worry that these exceptions could be used as loopholes, the fact of the matter is that any time fish are dumped now, based on the exceptions or not, the dumping will be officially noted. Therefore, even if the exceptions are being abused, it will show up in the data.

While this is only one step, it is a big one, and so wanted to say thanks to all those who comments or otherwise helped in making this happen. Let me know if you have any questions, and again, good work!

Thanks a lot,

CHOIR