[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 148 (Friday, August 1, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 45222]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19636]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

[I.D. 072503B]


Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS); Pilot Program for Testing of VMS 
Unit for Certification in Northeast Fisheries

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Request for participants in a pilot program.

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SUMMARY: NMFS' Northeast Office for Law Enforcement (OLE) is seeking 
potential participants for a voluntary, limited-duration pilot program 
to field test the Thrane & Thrane TT-3026M VMS unit currently being 
considered for certification for use in Northeast fisheries that 
require the use of VMS units for reporting and monitoring of fishing 
activity.

DATES: Individuals interested in participating in this pilot program 
should apply by August 29, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Application information may be obtained from and 
applications should be submitted to: Northeast Office for Law 
Enforcement, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1 Blackburn Drive, 
Gloucester, MA 01930. Mark the outside of the envelope ``VMS Pilot 
Program.'' Or, you may fax an application to: 978-281-9317.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Northeast Office for Law Enforcement, 
VMS Program, at 978-281-9213.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations at 50 CFR 648.9 set forth VMS 
requirements for fisheries in the northeastern United States that 
require the use of VMS for fishery monitoring and/or reporting. 
Specifically, Sec.  648.9(b) lists minimum VMS performance criteria 
that a VMS unit must meet in order to be certified for use. If and when 
a new or modified unit becomes available, the Administrator, Northeast 
Region, NMFS (Regional Administrator) may, under the provisions of 
Sec.  648.9(a), certify that unit for use, if it meets the minimum 
performance criteria.
    The Thrane & Thrane TT-3026M VMS unit is being evaluated for 
certification in Northeast fisheries that require the use of VMS. In 
order to provide field-testing information to the Regional 
Administrator, OLE has designed a voluntary pilot program. Specific 
focus of the pilot program will be the at-sea testing on the setting of 
the Days-at-Sea (DAS) activity codes using the freeform e-mail 
capability of the TT-3026M unit.
    The pilot program duration will be from 30 to 60 days, and will 
utilize six vessels of various sizes and configurations in the 
Northeast multispecies (groundfish) and Atlantic sea scallop fisheries. 
One unit has already been installed and activated on a local groundfish 
vessel that will be included in the pilot program. Therefore, five 
additional vessels are being sought to participate in the pilot 
program. Participant selection will be based upon vessel length, mast 
configuration, available power sources, principal port, permit type, 
personal computer (PC) knowledge level of the operator, and the 
anticipated fishing activity during the pilot program period. 
Applicants for the pilot program may provide this information to OLE by 
requesting, completing and returning a single-page application (see 
ADDRESSES). All expenses related to the installation and operation of 
the unit, within the scope of the pilot program, will be paid by OLE.
    Once participant selection is finalized, the VMS units will be 
installed on selected vessels in accordance with the manufacturer's 
guidelines; using local marine electronic vendors. The installer will 
be required to make the appropriate connections to the PC onboard the 
vessel and to load the easyMail software, which comes with the TT-
3026M. OLE will provide laptop PCs for those vessels that do not 
already have PCs on board. Once the VMS unit is installed and powered 
up, the installer will send a test message to OLE and then contact the 
OLE VMS staff to verify that the message was received and that the VMS 
unit is operating normally.
    The vessel operator will be provided an information packet from OLE 
that contains instructions for communications with OLE via the VMS unit 
and step-by-step instructions for sending and receiving activity code 
changes via the easyMail program. OLE will also provide contact 
information, so that unforeseen difficulties with the VMS unit or 
software can be resolved in a timely manner. A test script will be 
provided to the pilot program vessels to test specific functionality of 
the system used by OLE to process DAS Activity Code changes. OLE will 
review the test results and perform any necessary system adjustments.
    At the conclusion of the pilot program, interviews with the vessel 
operators will be conducted to solicit feedback and to obtain 
suggestions for system changes or enhancements. The VMS unit, along 
with any ancillary equipment, will be removed from the vessel. The 
vessel owner will have the option of retaining the control cable, if so 
desired; otherwise, it will be removed.

    Dated: July 28, 2003.
Bruce C. Morehead,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 03-19636 Filed 7-31-03; 8:45 am]
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