Alaska Fixed Gear
The Alaska Fixed Gear electronic monitoring program supports cooperative research and regulated fisheries management by enabling hook-and-line and trap vessels to use EM for catch, discard, and compliance monitoring, with equipment and field support provided by Archipelago.
March 22, 2021
Project Overview:
US Alaska Cooperative Research (Fixed Gear) EM Program started in 2014 and is currently still ongoing. It is primarily directed at ground fish hook and line (and trap) vessels targeting halibut, sablefish, and Pacific cod. The existing EM pool consists of over 140 vessels that carry EM for all fishing operations.
This is a federally funded cooperative research program, which is phasing into mandatory regulated program funded by industry through landing levies and contracted by the agency. The program allows participating vessels to use EM for at-sea catch and discard monitoring as well as mitigation device deployment instead of At-Sea Observers. Archipelago provides equipment and field support services to the fishing industry. EM services to industry comprise providing equipment, installation, and technical support.
