2018/2019 Monkfish Research Set-Aside (RSA)

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NMFS, in coordination with the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council (Councils), is soliciting Monkfish research proposals to utilize monkfish RSA Days At Sea (DAS) that has been set-aside by the Councils to fund monkfish research endeavors through the 2018/2019 Monkfish Research Set-Aside Program. No federal funds are provided for research under this notification. Rather, proceeds generated from the sale of RSA DAS will be used to fund research activities and compensate vessels that participate in research activities and/or harvest set-aside quota. Projects funded under the Monkfish RSA Program must enhance the knowledge of the monkfish fishery resource or contribute to the body of information on which monkfish management decisions are made. Priority will be given to monkfish research proposals that investigate research priorities identified by both the Councils, which are detailed under the Program Priorities section of this announcement. Applicants need to be aware that vessels operating under an Exempted Fishing Permit or conducting compensation fishing must report each trip in accordance with the instructions provided by NMFS. Reports may be required via vessel monitoring system trip reports, electronic vessel trip reports, web-based trip reports, and/or telephone-based trip reports. NMFS may require that vessels use technologies not currently mandated in the monkfish fishery, such as electronic vessel trip reports. If a vessel is unable to meet the reporting requirements, it will be ineligible to participate in compensation fishing. Non-compliance with reporting requirements is a cause for revoking compensation fishing privileges, and not awarding future NOAA projects.

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