Magnuson-Stevens Act Provisions; Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Northeast Multispecies Fishery; Approved Sector Monitoring Service Providers

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This notice announces that the Administrator, Northeast Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) has approved five service providers who applied as eligible to provide dockside and/or at-sea monitoring services to Northeast (NE) multispecies sectors in FY 2011. Amendment 16 to the NE Multispecies Fishery Management Plan (FMP) expanded sector management in the NE multispecies fishery, including a requirement for independent, third-party dockside and at-sea monitoring of sector trips beginning in fishing years (FY) 2010 and 2012, respectively; however, sectors could elect to have an at-sea monitoring program starting in FY 2010. Regulations implementing Amendment 16 require such third-party monitoring service providers to apply to, and be approved by, NMFS in a manner consistent with the Administrative Procedure Act in order to be eligible to provide dockside and/or at-sea monitoring services to sectors. The regulations specify application requirements and criteria for the approval of service providers, which potential providers must demonstrate their compliance with as part of an application for approval by NMFS. Consistent with these regulatory requirements, the Regional Administrator