Project Overview:
The West Coast Groundfish EM program operates under an exempted fishery permit (EFP) to use EM for three fleets: Pacific whiting, longline/trap (fixed gear), and trawl vessels. This project started in 2013 and is ongoing in the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) region. This EM program is coordinated by fishing industry association to meet Federal requirements with EM data being processed by Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). The program allows participating vessels to use EM for at-sea catch monitoring instead of At-Sea Observers, greatly reducing their monitoring costs. There are over 40 vessels in the program. Archipelago provides equipment and field support services covering equipment, installation, and technical support.