September 12, 2014 — The following was released by NOAA:
NOAA Fisheries, in collaboration with the Gulf of Maine Research Institute, invites you to an information session on exempted fishing permits (EFP) on September 30 at 6:oo PM at the Nantucket Boardroom at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis, MA.
EFPs are an important tool that allows commercial fishing vessels to conduct fisheries-related research, including gear testing, seafood product development, and market research.
Prior research conducted by industry members using EFPs has lead to the creation of special access programs in groundfish closed areas and the approval of groundfish sector exemptions.
This open discussion will include the basics of what an EFP is, how to get an EFP, and a question and answer session. NOAA Fisheries staff and industry members and organizations with experience using EFPs will be on hand to answer questions.
We also will provide an update on two current EFPs being used to test commercial fishing in the groundfish closed areas to support a request for a sector exemption.
Please join us for what we hope will be an informative discussion!
Click here to view the workshop agenda.