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action independent from the Regional Fishery Management Councils. 

 If problems arise in these areas, the Department will work with 

 the Councils to develop effective and fair solutions. 



Question 7: Has the Department addressed concerns that have been 

 raised regarding the occupational safety and health of workers on 

 sea-based processing vessels? 



The Department has not been advised of any specific 

 occupational safety or health problems of workers either on sea- 

 based processing vessels or at shore-based processing plants. 

 However, work on board any fishing or processing vessel always 

 involves risk, as does any work involving vessels at sea or 

 mechanical processes. If problems are found to exist in either 

 shoreside or at-sea processing facilities, the Coast Guard and 

 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are the 

 appropriate agencies to address these issues. i 



Question 8; How many at-sea processors participate in the 

 whiting fishery, and how many small fishing fleets and shore- 

 based processors? 



A total of 18 at-sea processors participated in the fishery 



in 1993. An additional 8 catcher boats delivered to at-sea 



processors before the at-sea sector reached its share of the 



harvest guideline. In 1993, there are 10 shoreside processors, 



and from 15 to 21 catcher boats that either have or will deliver 



shoreside — this part of the fishery is still open. Attached is 



a table describing the historic participation in the fishery. 



