INDIVIDUAL FISHING QUOTA SYSTEM RESOURCE GUIDE
General IFQ Information
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The West Coast groundfish trawl fishery is federally managed under an Individual Fishing Quota (IFQ) program for the shorebased trawl fleet and cooperative programs for the at-sea mothership and catcher/
processor trawl fleets
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Quota shares generate an exclusive right to harvest or transfer a certain amount of annual quota pounds
based on the scientifically established total allowable catch for each fish species within the fishery.
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Initial quota share allocations were assigned to permit holders based on historical landings
Resources
Summary of requirements and eligibility criteria to participate in the IFQ
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NOAA’s Compliance Guide to the Pacific Coast Groundfish Trawl Rationalization Program (2010)
http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/fishery_management/trawl_program/catch shares-guide-progr.pdf
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Reporting requirements
 Vessel registration questions
 Information on the Economic Data Collection Program
 How monitoring and enforcement will be conducted
 Information on observers and catch monitors
 Who is required to have a vessel monitoring system
 Specifics on shorebased IFQ program measures, mothership cooperative program measures, and
catcher processor coop program measures
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NOAA’s Compliance Guide: Program Improvement and Enhancement Rule (2013): This guide is designed for commercial fishermen and processors participating in the Pacific Coast groundfish fishery. It provides information to assist participants in understanding the regulations of the West Coast Trawl Catch Share
Program (program) and, in particular, the second program improvement and enhancement rule (PIE 2) http://
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/publications/fishery_management/groundfish/public_notices/
pie_2_compliance_guide.pdf
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For more information on trawl regulations and compliance, visit NOAA’s West Coast Region resource
pages:
 http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish_catch_shares/rules_regulations/
trawl_regulations_compliance_guides.html
 http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish_catch_shares/index.html
Additional Requirements Details
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Vessel Account: Details on how to establish a vessel account can be found at the Vessel Accounts page on the
NOAA fisheries website: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish_catch_shares/
vessel_accounts/index.html
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Vessel Monitoring System (VMS): The VMS must have a NMFS type-approved transmitter that automatically determines a vessel’s position and a NMFS-approved communications service provider to receive and relay transmissions. For more information, visit the VMS page on the NOAA Fisheries website: http://
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/management/vms.html
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Observer Coverage: The groundfish trawl IFQ program requires that participating vessels have an observer on
board at all times. For more information, visit NOAA’s Observer Program page: http://
www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/wc_observer_programs/observer_program_nw_trawl_catch_shr.html
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First Receivers and Catch Monitors: An IFQ first receiver receives, purchases, or takes custody, control, or possession of catch onshore from a vessel that harvested IFQ species. All buyers of IFQ must hold a first receiver site
license for each physical landing site, and each IFQ first receiver must also have a certified catch monitor for the
landing. A catch monitor is someone who is land-based at IFQ first receiver facilities and confirms that total landings
are accurately sorted, weighed, and recorded on electronic fish tickets. For more information, visit NOAA’s First Receivers and Catch Monitors page: http://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries/groundfish_catch_shares/
ifq_first_receivers_catch_monitors.html
Additional Resources
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For questions regarding the program, you can contact the Groundfish Policy and Regulations Branch:
 Phone: 206-526-6140
 Fax: 206-526-6736
 Toll-free trawl rationalization hotline: 888-522-0267
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For additional questions regarding permits/licenses, contact the NMFS, Northwest Region Permits Office:
 Phone: 206-526-4353
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For questions regarding the observer program, contact the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program:
 Phone: 206--302-1777
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For more information on the catch monitor program,, contact the catch monitor program coordinator:
 Phone: 503-595-3282
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To contact the NMFS law enforcement, you can find a enforcement office nearest you at:
 http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/ole/index.html