NOAA Fisheries is proposing new logbook requirements for vessel owners holding specific HMS permits, including Charter/ Headboat, Atlantic Tunas General category, and Swordfish General Commercial permits. Also, the proposal includes changes to the reporting requirements for HMS Angling permits for private recreational vessels.
The proposed rule mandates that reporting for Bluefin Tuna ( BFT ) landings, dead discards, and non-tournament landings of billfish and swordfish must only be done via an electronic system for those with an HMS Angling permit. This change may make it impossible to record removals over the phone.
NOAA is looking to expand the data collection for For-Hire operations that would include reporting all trips in a 24-hour time period, regardless of whether fish are caught, reporting all species caught ( including non-HMS ), fishing location, and no-fishing reports.
We do caution against a broad implementation without the appropriate mentoring and coaching for our society, despite NOAA’s claim that these changes are intended to improve the accuracy and punctuality of data selection, which are essential for effective management and conservation of very migratory species.
For more information, you can refer to the full details below.
Origin: The Billfish Foundation
