Pacific Fishery Management Council; Notice of Public Meeting

摘要

On November 4, 2003, a final rule implementing a pilot vessel monitoring system (VMS) Program for the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery was published in the Federal Register (68 FR 62374). The VMS requirements became effective January 1, 2004, for vessels registered to limited entry groundfish permits. The Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) is considering expansion of the VMS program into the open access groundfish fisheries. VMS requirements are being considered for both directed open access groundfish vessels and vessels in other target fisheries that incidentally take and retain groundfish in Federal waters (seaward of 3 nm). VMS coverage for vessels that fish only in state waters is not being considered at this time.