The Gulf Council took final action to establish electronic reporting requirements for vessels with federal for-hire reef fish or coastal migratory pelagic permits. The recommended program will require federal for-hire vessels to submit a trip notification for each for-hire fishing trip and complete electronic logbook reports for each trip before offloading fish. 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 document will be transmitted to the Secretary of Commerce for consideration and implementation as soon as practicable.
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.