§ 285.8 - At-sea observer coverage.

(a) Notwithstanding the selection for placement or the placement of on-board fishery observers under the authority of any other Federal statute or fisheries regulation, NMFS may require observers for any vessel engaged in directed fishing for, or incidentally taking, Atlantic tunas at any time.

(b) Owners of vessels selected for observer coverage are required to notify the appropriate Fisheries Science Center Director before commencing any fishing trip that may result in the harvest of any Atlantic tuna. Notification procedures will be specified in selection letters to vessel owners.

(c) An owner or operator of a vessel on which a NMFS-approved observer is embarked must:

(1) Provide accommodations and food that are equivalent to those provided to the crew;

(2) Allow the observer access to and use of the vessel's communications equipment and personnel upon request for the transmission and receipt of messages related to the observer's duties;

(3) Allow the observer access to and use of the vessel's navigation equipment and personnel upon request to determine the vessel's position;

(4) Allow the observer free and unobstructed access to the vessel's bridge, working decks, holding bins, weight scales, holds, and any other space used to hold, process, weigh, or store fish; and

(5) Allow the observer to inspect and copy the vessel's log, communications logs, and any records associated with the catch and distribution of fish for that trip.