eLandings User Manual

What landings and disposition codes are subject to Observer Fees?


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)

  • 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

  • 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
  • Groundfish managed under State of Alaska guideline harvest levels, which currently include pollock, Pacific cod, and sablefish
  • Lingcod
  • Black rockfish and blue rockfish in the GOA
  • Dark rockfish in the GOA and BSAI
  • Salmon caught in the troll fishery


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