Electronic Monitoring As a Compliance Tool in the U.S. West Coast Groundfish Catch Share Fishery

The U.S. West Coast groundfish trawl fishery, consisting of approximately 100 vessels, transitioned to an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) fishery starting in 2011. As a regulatory requirement, 100% at-sea human compliance monitoring was implemented to accurately monitor discards of IFQ species for vessel quota debiting. Human monitors can reduce flexibility in the fishery, increase costs, decrease safety and sometimes eliminate the opportunity to fish when monitors are not available on short notice. Electronic monitoring (EM) systems, where demonstrated to be a viable substitute for human monitoring, could resolve some of the limitations imposed by the need to monitor 100% of fishing activity. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) has developed an EM program with pre-implementation exploration started in 2012. In order to successfully implement EM as a management tool, key players must be involved and systems must be in place. Beginning in May of 2015, EM will be implemented in the IFQ fishery to a limited degree using exempted fishing permits to further explore EM as a management tool. Up-to-date findings will be presented on the EM program within this management structure.