Why ACSA?
Through investigations of the sinking with loss of life of the F/V ARCTIC ROSE in 2001 and the explosion and fire of the F/V GALAXY in 2002, the Coast Guard became aware that a large number of vessels undertake fish and fish product preparation other than gutting, decapitating, gilling, skinning, shucking, icing, freezing, or brine chilling (and would thus meet the definition of a Fish Processing Vessel).
Unlike a Fishing Vessel, Fish Processing Vessels are required to meet classification and load line requirements. These are high standards related to the robustness of the hull, watertight envelope, performance of the machinery, propulsion, and fire prevention among other things. Yet, mainly driven by fishery management restrictions, a significant number of Fishing Vessels, started making products that crossed the line into Fish Processing. However, most of these vessels could not meet full class and load line standards due to their age. Instead of essentially shutting down a multi-billion dollar fishery, with no real gains in preventing vessel losses or fatalities, the ACSA Program was formed as an alternative to class and load line by using the District Commander's exemption authority, but at the same time requiring rigorous standards that would bring the fleet up to class and load line equivalent standards. The District Commander has the authority to allow exemptions of regulations provided that good cause exists and the safety of the vessel and crew are not compromised.
ACSA was established for a fleet of vessels that were actually processing fish as opposed to just head, gutting and freezing (below is a list of processes a fishing vessel is allowed to perform). Initially it was difficult for the Coast Guard to determine whether a vessel was truly a fishing vessel or doing more to the fish that caused the vessel to be considered as a fish processing vessel.
A tool for determining exactly what each vessel was doing to the fish became apparent when the Arctic (17th) Coast Guard District discovered that the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) requires these vessels to report the products they produce using a list called the NMFS Product Codes. By examining the products these vessels were reporting to NMFS the Coast Guard was able to clearly determine whether a vessel was truly operating as a fishing vessel or as a fish processing vessel. Many vessels that initially operated as fishing vessels were driven to retain and utilize a larger portion of fish to satisfy the requirements in the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (excerpt section 104-297(i)).
Some vessel owners elected to stop producing those products constituted processing and only perform those allowed of a fishing vessel (listed as H & G). Most vessels opted to comply with the newly established standards in the ACSA program and were allowed to continue minimal processing. These vessels were not allowed to produce products listed as extensive processing. Only Fish Processing Vessels that are classed and load lined are allowed to perform extensive processing.