Implementation of Violation Reporting Program for the Southeast Pelagic Observer Program

In September 2013, NOAA Fisheries Southeast Observer Programs and NOAA Office of Law Enforcement established guidelines for referrals of potential violations with input from NOAA Fisheries General Counsel and the United States Coast Guard (USCG). This process was initiated to comply with requirements set by a NOAA internal investigation of observer program practices.

In January 2014, the NOAA Fisheries Pelagic Observer Program (POP) implemented a program that required all observers to report potential fisheries and USCG MARPOL violations they witnessed during the normal course of their duties. Observers are now trained to provide this information as witnesses only; however, they are not authorized to enforce any Federal fisheries laws or regulations.

From the time period of January through December 2014, potential fisheries and MARPOL violations were reported on approximately 100 unique deployments with POP observers on board. Violations ranged from handling violations to gear violations to observer compliance to garbage discharge. The fishery violation referrals have resulted in enforcement actions ranging from simple outreach to Notice of Violation and Assessment.  This poster will explain the process by which the system for reporting violations was developed, as well as methods currently used in the collection of this integral fisheries enforcement data.