Fisheries of the Northeastern United States; Dealer and Vessel Reporting Requirements

NMFS issues a final rule to amend the existing reporting regulations for dealers and owners whose vessels are federally permitted to operate in the summer flounder, scup, black sea bass, Atlantic sea scallop, Northeast (NE) multispecies, monkfish, Atlantic mackerel, squid, butterfish, surfclam, ocean quahog, spiny dogfish or Atlantic bluefish fisheries. Changes to the existing regulations are needed to improve the monitoring of commercial landings and to enhance the enforceability of the reporting regulations. The intent of this action is to improve the collection of fisheries-dependent data.