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)
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:
| 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:
| 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:
| 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:
| 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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