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Whiting fisheries in the Northwest Region have been operating under an Exempted Fishing Permit through the 2008 season (Final Rule to Establish Catch Accounting Requirements). Beginning in 2009 Amendment 15 will identify qualified vessels for a whiting endorsement to their limited entry trawl permit. The whiting EFP and Amendment 15 recognize a need to track bycatch on a near real-time basis, and specify electronic reporting, or an e-ticket program, as the mechanism. This e-ticket reporting is in parallel with the state's traditional paper fish tickets. PSMFC is currently developing this e-ticket program, emulating and coexisting with state fish ticket programs, capturing data into the PACFIN database directly from participating processors without going through the states (the states may subsequently data-enter from the paper copies into their own local databases, or, they may download data from PACFIN to complete their local databases.) This parallel approach is emulating state programs with no change in management approach, data elements, etc.and allows states flexibility and time to adopt at their convenience.
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