Application of Two Approaches for Electronic Monitoring: Documenting and Estimating Catch on Commercial Vessels in the Northeast US

Electronic Monitoring (EM) technologies hold promise as a data collection resource and could be used as a monitoring tool by integrating EM with other information collection systems. The Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) recently completed a four year project testing the utility of EM with volunteer fishing vessels. The project goal was to explore the application of EM in the Northeast multispecies fishery as a tool to monitor annual catch entitlements of groundfish quota. The three phases of the project and the process used to arrive at suggested monitoring approaches are described. Phase I and Phase II of the project provided basic understanding of EM, direction for the remainder of the project, and identified two potential approaches for using EM in the Northeast. Phase III focused on enhanced testing of the two approaches in an operational setting. We include examples drawn from experimental trials conducted by project staff and participating vessel crews to illustrate the application of these approaches and demonstrate how EM could be used to benefit fishery managers, the industry, and policy makers. Project findings were summarized in a final report and are being used by stakeholders to explore the application of EM to fisheries in the Northeast.