Fisheries Off West Coast States; Highly Migratory Species Fisheries

NMFS issues a final rule to amend vessel identification regulations of the Fishery Management Plan (FMP) for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species (HMS). The current regulatory text requires all commercial fishing vessels and recreational charter vessels fishing under the HMS FMP to display their official numbers on the port and starboard sides of the deckhouse or hull, and on an appropriate weather deck (horizontal or flat surface) so as to be visible from enforcement vessels and aircraft. The final rule exempts HMS recreational charter vessels from complying with the vessel identification requirements. The regulation is intended to relieve a restriction for which the costs outweigh the benefits. Current state and Federal (U.S. Coast Guard) marking requirements are sufficient for law enforcement personnel to adequately identify HMS recreational charter vessels at-sea and the added burden to vessel owners of additional vessel marking requirements was deemed unnecessary.