The Gulf Council is developing an Amendment to establish electronic reporting requirements for vessels with federal for-hire reef fish or coastal migratory pelagic permits. The current preferred alternatives would require these federal for-hire vessels to submit a trip declaration for each for-hire fishing trip and complete electronic reports for each trip before offloading. A 'did not fish' report will have to be submitted if no fishing occurs for a week. Additionally, a portion of vessel owners/operators would be selected each year to submit economic data on for-hire fishing activity.
The Council would like your feedback.
Join us during a virtual public hearing to learn more about the proposed changes and provide comment. Two hearings will be conducted beginning at 6:00 PM, Eastern Daylight Time on August 13, 2026, and August 17, 2026.
Register for and join the virtual public hearing meetings here: https://tinyurl.com/CFHReportingMeeting
Other resources including a video, the latest draft of the document, and an online comment form will be published here as they become available: https://tinyurl.com/CharterReporting
About The Gulf Council: The Gulf Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act of 1976. The Council prepares fishery management plans, which are designed to manage fishery resources within the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of America.