The N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) has fixed a technical issue with the Observer Trip Scheduling System (OTSS) that had been affecting the system’s automated fisherman selection and confirmation number notifications.
The technical problem prevented fishermen from reliably receiving selection notifications with their assigned observer contact information and/or their confirmation number notifications, if not selected for observation. Working with the N.C. Department of Information Technology and the software vendor, the Division has resolved the issue, and automated notifications have resumed.
Fishermen should continue reporting plans to fish estuarine gill nets through OTSS one week in advance by calling 833-ITP-TRIP (833-487-8747) or visitinghttps://dmf.ncdenr.org/OTSSPublic between 12:01 a.m. Monday and 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.
Fishermen selected to be observed are responsible for contacting their assigned observer using the information provided in the automated notification. Contact must be made, or a message left, by 4 p.m. Friday before the selected fishing week. Failure to do so will make the fisherman ineligible to legally fish estuarine gill nets during that selected fishing week.
Fishermen who are not selected for observation will receive a confirmation number for days they are not selected for observation. These confirmation numbers should be retained and made available upon request by Marine Patrol officers.
Fishermen who experience technical difficulties with OTSS or who do not receive a notification on Thursday each week after reporting plans to fish should immediately contact the Observer Program at 252-515-5625. If staff are unavailable, callers should leave a message documenting the issue and their contact information, and their call will be returned as soon as possible.
OTSS is an automated system used to schedule observed trips of the estuarine gill net fishery in compliance with the state’s Section 10 Incidental Take Permit for Sea Turtles and Sturgeon under the Endangered Species Act. Run-around, strike, or drop gill nets and drift gill nets in some circumstances are exempt from using OTSS and the requirements of the Incidental Take Permit. For more information about exempt gears, visit the DMF OTSS webpage.