Moulton Convinces NOAA to Reverse Course on At-Sea Monitors
WASHINGTON — Following Rep. Seth Moulton’s press conference and forum with fishermen and NOAA officials this morning and a direct appeal to the Undersecretary of Commerce and Acting Director of NOAA earlier this month, NOAA has announced it will delay the return of At-Sea Monitors until at least August 1st. In its notification to Moulton, NOAA also said that it would consider national CDC data on new cases and potentially extend the deadline further if conditions require it.
“While I’m a little frustrated it took a full-court press to get one of the nation’s premier scientific agencies to make a data-driven decision, I am glad that NOAA listened,” Moulton said. “In the end, this is the right call. A few weeks of fish data is not worth more than a single human life. Let’s keep working together to protect our fisheries and the fishermen whose livelihoods depend on healthy oceans.”
Moulton’s office received the following statement from NOAA’s Congressional Liaison a few minutes ago:
Although NOAA Fisheries had announced plans to resume observer deployments on July 1, we recognize the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve and as such, has required us to re-evaluate and adapt to changing circumstances. In response, NOAA Fisheries is extending the waiver granted to vessels with Greater Atlantic Region fishing permits to carry human observers or at-sea monitors through July 31, 2020.
This action is authorized by 50 CFR 648.11, which provides the Greater Atlantic Regional Administrator authority to waive observer requirements, and is also consistent with the criteria described in the agency's emergency rule on observer waivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We intend to begin redeploying observers and at-sea monitors on vessels fishing in northeast fisheries on August 1. During the month of July, we will continue to work with regional observer and at-sea monitoring service providers to finalize their observer redeployment plans, conduct outreach with industry, and finalize our internal programs and policies that will support the safe and effective redeployment of observers and at-sea monitors in the region.
Observers and at-sea monitors are an essential component of commercial fishing operations and provide critical information that is necessary to keep fisheries open and to provide sustainable seafood to our nation during this time. We will continue to monitor all local public health notifications, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for updates. We are committed to protecting the public health and ensuring the safety of fishermen, observers, and others, while fulfilling our mission to maintain our nation's seafood supply and conserving marine life.
As has been done throughout the rest of the country, it is the intent of NOAA Fisheries to begin redeploying observers as soon as it is safe and appropriate to do so. While we intend to begin redeploying observers on August 1, we recognize that this public health crisis continues to evolve and changing conditions may warrant re-evaluating these plans. Should our plans regarding re-deploying observers and at-sea monitors change, we will announce any changes as soon as practicable.
On Friday, June 12, NOAA informed Moulton’s office that At-Sea Monitors would return to the nation’s commercial fishing vessels on July 1. On June 18, Moulton and Rep. Bill Keating wrote Undersecretary of Commerce Dr. Neil Jacobs, who is currently in charge of NOAA, demanding a delay so that NOAA could build a plan to make the return of At-Sea Monitors safer. On Monday, Moulton called NOAA’s regional leaders and again demanded a delay. The appeal continued this morning, as Moulton partnered with fishermen from across the country to call for an extension. Several NOAA officials listened to the press conference call.
At-Sea Monitors are people who ride commercial fishing boats to collect data in order to prevent overfishing and ensure regulatory compliance. They are hired by private-sector companies and follow the commercial fishing season from port to port across the country as the seasons change. Monitors typically ride on several different boats while they are in one location.
Here is a recap of coverage:
This morning: Gloucester Daily Times: Moulton: Human Lives More Important than Fish Data
June 26: NPR: Federal Agency Tells Employees ‘No Reference to Anything COVID Related’
June 24: Gloucester Daily Times Monitors to Return, Fishermen Critical
June 18: Gloucester Daily Times: Moulton Calls for Extension of Monitor Waiver