August 13, 2021: Today, NOAA Fisheries published the updated six Regional Electronic Technologies Implementation Plans (ET Plans) to a new webpage. The ET Plans reflect the respective vision, implementation status, priorities, and challenges related to electronic technologies in each of the five NOAA Fisheries Regions – Greater Atlantic, Southeast, West Coast, Alaska, and the Pacific Islands – as well as in the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic HMS) program.
In 2013 NOAA Fisheries released its Policy on Electronic Technologies and Fishery-Dependent Data Collection (04-115 – ET Policy Directive), requiring that all five NOAA Fisheries Regions as well as Atlantic HMS submit ET Plans covering five years. In 2015, the initial ET Plans were published and 6 month updates were completed through 2017, which were primarily used for prioritizing internal and external ET funds and provided details and timing related to Council actions.In 2019 NOAA Fisheries issued a revision of its ET Policy Directive, which reflected progress on the implementation of electronic technologies for fishery-dependent data collection and new processes for regional implementation plans. The updated 2021-2025 ET Plans outline the following:
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5-year vision and priorities
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Council actions, research, development, and pilot projects
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Data integration and system interoperability (e.g., One-touch reporting)
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Impediments to implementation and resource needs
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Tables to track implementation progress for EM, ER, VMS, observer technology, etc.
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Costs of EM projects and programs, and updates to transitioning costs to and transition plans to meet the guidance from the Procedural Directive on Cost Allocation in Electronic Monitoring Programs issued in 2019 (04-115-02 – EM Cost Allocation Directive)
NOAA Fisheries Regions and Atlantic HMS formally and/or informally engaged their respective Councils and other partners on development of their 2021-2025 ET Plans, though the COVID-19 pandemic did impact engagement with some more than others. Additional and continued engagement with Councils, stakeholders, and other partners is expected with annual ET Plan updates to be published each spring. NOAA Fisheries looks forward to our ongoing collaboration with the Councils, Atlantic HMS Advisory Panel, and other partners on testing, planning, and implementation of electronic technologies to continue to advance our fishery-dependent data collection.For any questions about the ET Plans, please contact Brett Alger, brett.alger@noaa.gov, 301-427-8217, or Laura Keeling, laura.keeling@noaa.gov, 301-427-8562.
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