Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish and Shrimp Observer Program

June 2009
United States Department of Commerce
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Marine Fisheries Service

Southeast Fisheries Science Center
75 Virginia Beach Drive
Miami, FL 33149

Date: February 9, 2009
Vessel Owner
Street Address
City, State Zip
Dear Permit Holder:
This letter is to inform you that your vessel, Vessel Name, Doc#, has been selected to
carry an observer for the April through June 2009 Commercial Reef Fish season pursuant to
MSFCMA § 303(b)(8). Upon receipt of this letter, you are required to contact the observer
coordinator within 24 hours to make arrangements to carry an observer. Even if you are not
planning to fish this season, or sold your vessel, you are still required to contact the
observer coordinator.
Primary Contacts:
Mike Harrelson, Observer Coordinator
Voice: (409) 766-3525
Pat Cryer, Observer Coordinator
Voice: (409) 766-3525
National Marine Fisheries Service
Galveston Laboratory
4700 Avenue U
Galveston, TX 77551
FAX: (409) 766-3489

Secondary Contact:
Elizabeth Scott-Denton, Program Manager
National Marine Fisheries Service
Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Galveston Laboratory
4700 Avenue U
Galveston, TX 77551
Voice: (409) 766-3571
FAX: (409) 766-3508

After the initial contact with an observer coordinator, as the owner or operator of a vessel
that is selected for observer coverage, under MSFCMA § 303(b)(8), you must notify the National
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) before commencing any fishing trip that may result in the
incidental catch or harvest of any reef fish, regardless of the species you are targeting. You
are required to notify the observer coordinator by fax (attached form) or phone at least 48 hours
prior to each fishing trip.
Vessels are selected randomly from a pool of vessels that (1) have a current directed reef
fish permit, (2) historically reported fishing for reef fish with electric reel, handline, and/or
longline gear, and (3) have not been selected consecutively for this program for each of the past
three quarters.
Please note that vessels that have been excused from participating in previous years or
seasons are not automatically excused from participating in the coming season. All selected
vessels must contact the observer coordinator.
Once a NMFS-certified observer is placed aboard your vessel, you are required to:

1. Provide the observer with accommodations and food equivalent to that provided to
the crew (you will be reimbursed for reasonable food costs);
2. Allow the observer access to and use of the vessel's communication equipment and
personnel for transmitting and receiving messages related to the observer's duties;
3. Allow the observer access to and use of the vessel's navigation equipment, charts, and
crew to determine the vessel's position;
4. As provided by 50 C.F.R. 229.7(b), allow the observer free and unobstructed access
to all fish, marine mammals, and sea turtles aboard the vessel for purposes of
collecting measurements, weights, and biological samples. This will also include
access to the vessel's bridge, working decks, holding bins, weight scales, holds, and
any other space used to hold, process, weigh, or store fish;
5. Allow the observer to inspect and copy the vessel's log, communications logs, and
any records associated with the catch and distribution of fish for that trip; and
6. Have or obtain a Commercial Fishing Vessel Examination decal prior to the selection
period. Failure to obtain a safety decal is not justification for fishing without an
observer, and may result in enforcement action. A list of phone numbers for
approved Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiners is included at the end of this letter.
The safety decal must clearly state the number of people that will be onboard,
including the observer and the areas and waters in which the vessel will be fishing.
All safety equipment must be up to date including the EPIRB battery, life raft, and
flares. Life raft capacity must be large enough for all persons on board, including all
crew plus the observer.
Your cooperation with the above requirements is appreciated. We will make every effort
to minimize any disruption of the normal activities of your vessel and crew. The observer is
onboard to collect data only; for safety and liability reasons, the observer will not take part in any
fishing operations.
Thank you for your cooperation, without which collection of this critical information
would not be possible.

Sincerely,

Bonnie Ponwith, Ph.D.
Director, Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Enclosures

PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT STATEMENT: Information collected through the observer
program will be used to: (1) monitor catch and bycatch; (2) understand the population status and
trends of fish stocks and protected species, as well as the interactions between them; (3)
determine the quantity and distribution of net benefits derived from living marine resources; (4)
predict the biological, ecological, and economic impacts of existing management actions and
proposed management options; and (5) ensure that the observer programs can safely and
efficiently collect the information required for the previous four uses. In particular, the observer
program provides information that is used in analyses that support the conservation and
management of living marine resources and that are required under the Magnuson-Stevens
Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the
Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), Executive Order 12866 (EO 12866), and other applicable law.
Most of the information collected by observers is obtained through “direct observation by an
employee or agent of the sponsoring agency or through non-standardized oral communication in
connection with such direct observations". Under the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)
regulations at 5 C.F.R. 1320.3(h)(3), facts or opinions obtained through such observations and
communications are not considered to be "information" subject to the PRA. The public reporting
burden for responding to the questions that observers ask and that are subject to the PRA is
estimated to average 65 minutes per trip, including the time for hearing and understanding the
questions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and
completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing
this burden, to: National Marine Fisheries Service, Shrimp and Reef Fish Observer Programs,
4700 Avenue U, Galveston, Texas 77551. Providing the requested information is mandatory
under regulations at 50 C.F.R. 600.746 for the safety questions and at 50 C.F.R. 222.401, 50
C.F.R. 229.7, and 50 C.F.R. 622.8 for all other questions. All information collected by observers
will be kept confidential as required under Section 402(b) of the MSA (18 U.S.C. 1881a(b)) and
regulations at 50 C.F.R. Part 600, Subpart E. Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, no
person is required to respond to, nor shall any person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply
with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.
OMB Control No. 0648-xxxx
Expires xx/xx/2012

COMMERCIAL FISHING VESSEL EXAMINERS

EIGHTH DISTRICT MARINE SAFETY OFFICE
Mr. Mark Jones

MSO Port Arthur, TX

800-422-3762

Mr. Gilberto Gallardo

MSO Galveston, TX

409-789-2711 / 800-378-2097

Mr. Juan Garza

MSO Corpus Christi, TX

800-434-9486 x 314

Mr. David Johnson

MSO New Orleans, LA

800-891-1197

Mr. Bill Evert

MSO Morgan City, LA

800-884-8724

Mr. Scott La Bak

MSO Mobile, AL

800-880-3193

SEVENTH DISTRICT MARINE SAFETY OFFICE
CPO Angle Rodriquez

MSO San Juan, PR

787-706-2421

Mr. Rafael Arizmendi

MSO Miami and Key West, FL

305-535-8734

Mr. Rob Buckles

MSO Tampa, FL

813-228-2196 x 8136

Mr. Ed Weiss

MSO Jacksonville, FL

904-564-7664

Mr. Scott Way

MSO Savannah, GA

912-652-4353 x 215

Mr. Greg Johnson

MSO Charleston, SC

843-720-3267

FIFTH DISTRICT MARINE SAFETY OFFICE
Mr. Robert Garrott

MSO Portsmouth, VA

757-398-6554

Mr. Steve Oakley

ACT Baltimore, MD

410-576-2634

Mr. Red Gilbert

MSO Hampton Roads, VA

757-668-5535

Mr. Robert Garrott

MSO Philadelphia, PA

757-398-6554

Mr. Barry Everhart

MSO Moorhead, NC

252-247-4526

FIRST DISTRICT MARINE SAFETY OFFICE
Mr. Gary Moores

MSO Bucksport Maine

207-469-2394

Mr. Arn Heggers

MSO Portland Maine

207-780-3256

Mr. John Buckley

617-223-3045

Ms. Kyra Dwyer &
Petty Officer Roger Mumford

MSO Boston (MA and part of
NH)
MSO Providence (Cape Cod to
RI)
MSO Long Island Sound (CT
and Long Island NY);

Petty Officer Mike Wireman

ACT New York

718-354-3168

Mr. Kevin Coyle

508-999-0072
203-468-4437