The Council reviewed a discussion paper, developed a Purpose and Need Statement, and approved alternatives for analysis. Alternatives were included to broaden the definition of a Certified Medical Professional that would be allowed to certify the Medical Transfer Application Form. Currently only a licensed medical doctor, an advanced nurse practitioner, or a primary community health aide may submit an affidavit to NMFS. The two options included in the Council’s motion would broaden the definition to include other commonly used medical professionals as well as an option to either include or exclude medical professionals who are practicing outside the U.S.
An alternative was also added to provide options for the maximum number of years that the medical transfer provision can be used for any medical reason, beyond which the QS holder would be precluded from fishing his or her IFQ that year. Those options are: 2 of 5 most recent years, or 3 of 7 most recent years. Two options were also included to define when a “year” begins. A year would be defined as either a calendar year or 365 days from the date on which the medical transfer was approved by NMFS. Finally, the Council included an option that would establish a limit on the number of times a QS holder could use the medical transfer provision. The range of years to be analyzed is 5 to 10 years.
The Purpose and Need Statement and the Council’s alternatives for analysis are available on the Council’s website under the C-4 Agenda Item from the February 2018 Council meeting.
Staff contact is Sam Cunningham.
