What landings are subject to observer fees?

Landings of halibut IFQ or halibut CDQ are subject to the observer fee, regardless of where the catch is harvested. For groundfish, the landings that are subject to the observer fee contain fish harvested in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and State waters where the catch is subtracted from the Federal Total Allowable Catch (TAC). In general, federally managed fisheries occur in the EEZ and most fisheries managed by the State of Alaska occur in State waters within 3 nautical miles of the coast. However some federally managed fisheries occur in State waters and vice versa. The table below provides additional information about which landings will and will not be subject to the observer fee. More information is also available in an Observer Fee Summary and information about observer coverage and CDQ fisheries is available here.

One of the criteria that affects fees assessment is whether the delivering vessel has a Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP). To check and see if a vessel has an FFP go here: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/commercial-fishing/permits-and-licenses-issued-alaska

Landings subject to the observer fee for vessels with and without a Federal Fishing Permit (FFP)

If fish in the landing is from the following fishery or species:	Is fish from the landing subject to the observer fee?
	If the vessel is not designated on an FFP or required to be designated on an FFP:	If the vessel is designated on an FFP or required to be designated on an FFP:
*1) Groundfish listed in Table 2a to part 679 that is harvested in the EEZ* and subtracted from a federal TAC. Includes:** FMP groundfish landed while fishing for halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, or salmon (troll) in the EEZ Groundfish CDQ Demersal shelf rockfish in the Southeast Outside District of the GOA Black rockfish and blue rockfish in the BSAI	Not applicable. An FFP is required to harvest these groundfish in the EEZ.	Yes
*2) Groundfish listed in Table 2a to part 679 that is harvested in Alaska State waters* and subtracted from a federal TAC. Includes:** FMP groundfish harvested in a parallel groundfish fishery FMP groundfish landed while fishing for halibut IFQ, halibut CDQ, sablefish IFQ, or salmon (troll) in Alaska State waters Groundfish CDQ harvested in Alaska State waters Demersal shelf rockfish caught in Alaska State waters adjacent to the Southeast Outside District of the GOA FMP groundfish that are non-target species harvested while fishing in a State of Alaska guideline harvest level fishery for pollock, Pacific cod, or sablefish	No	Yes
3) Sablefish IFQ, regardless of where harvested	Yes	Yes
4) Halibut IFQ or halibut CDQ, regardless of where harvested	Yes	Yes
*5) Groundfish listed in Table 2a to part 679 that is harvested in Alaska State waters, but is not subtracted from a federal TAC. Includes:* Groundfish managed under State of Alaska guideline harvest levels, which currently include pollock, Pacific cod, and sablefish	No	No
6) Any groundfish or other species not listed in Table 2a to part 679, except halibut IFQ or CDQ halibut, regardless of where harvested. Includes: Lingcod Black rockfish and blue rockfish in the GOA Dark rockfish in the GOA and BSAI Salmon caught in the troll fishery	No	No

How observer fees apply to different disposition codes

(NOTE: there is also another page here with more information about disposition codes for Halibut and crab IFQ and how they are translated in the NMFS IFQ system)

Groundfish Transactions

Disposition codes for sold groundfish – fees apply

60: sold
61: Sold for bait

Other retained and discarded groundfish disposition codes – No observer fees

41: fish meal
62: overage
63: confiscated or seized
79: deadloss
86: donated
88: discarded, infested
89: decomposed
92: retained for bait, not sold
93: damaged by observer sampling
95: personal use; not sold
98: discarded at sea
99: discard, onshore; not sold

Halibut & sablefish IFQ

Disposition codes designated as “sold”in the IFQ system – fees apply

62: Overage
60: sold
61: Sold for bait

Disposition codes designated as “retained” in the IFQ system – No observer fees

87: Retained for future sale
92: retained for bait, not sold
95: personal use; not sold
99: discard, onshore; not sold

Do not get submitted to the IFQ system and don’t come off IFQ – No observer fees

63: confiscated or seized
64: tagged IFQ fish
88: discarded, infested
89: decomposed or previously discarded
93: damaged by observer sampling

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eLandings User Documentation

What landings and disposition codes are subject to Observer Fees?