Rockfish Cost Recovery.pdf

Cost Recovery Requirements and Responsibilities

NMFS collects fees from Rockfish Program cooperatives to cover management and enforcement costs.
Cost recovery fees are assessed on the ex-vessel value of primary and secondary species harvested under the Rockfish Program.
Fees do not apply to halibut prohibited species catch or Rockfish Program entry-level longline fishery and opt-out vessels.
CQ permit holders are responsible for paying fees owed for all Rockfish Program CQ landings on their permit.

Payment and Penalties

Payment must be made electronically by February 15 of the year following the calendar year in which the CQ landings were made.
Failure to pay on time may result in penalties, fines, and/or permit sanctions.
Unpaid accounts accrue administrative fees, interest, and penalties after 30 days.

Rockfish Processors' Responsibilities

Rockfish processors must submit a complete Rockfish Ex-vessel Volume and Value Report for each reporting period.
Reports must be received by NMFS by December 1 of the year in which the rockfish processor received the Rockfish Program CQ species.

NMFS Responsibilities

Compiles a list of all Rockfish Program landings by species and month.
Calculates standard ex-vessel prices for fish landed.
Applies the standard ex-vessel price to each landing to determine the fee owed.
Mails Rockfish Program CQ permit holders a summary of their landings and calculated fee.

2017 Rockfish Program Cost Recovery Fee Percentage

The 2017 IFQ fee percentage was set at 2.04%.
CQ permit holders are obligated to pay 2.04% of the total ex-vessel value from the sale of their Rockfish Program fish.
The fee percentage is derived from the fishery value of the Rockfish Program fisheries and direct program costs.

Fishery Value and Direct Program Costs

Fishery value is determined from ex-vessel prices for each Rockfish Program primary and secondary species.
Direct program costs are the costs NMFS incurs to manage, collect data from, and conduct enforcement for the Rockfish Program fisheries.
The fishery value of the Rockfish Program fisheries in 2017 was $10,248,424.
Direct program costs are calculated for the Federal fiscal year and are used to calculate the annual fee percentage.