The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association has proposed changing the federally permitted seafood dealers reporting requirements for the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic regions. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
by NOAA staff with contribution from Gulf Seafood Institute
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has proposed changing the federally permitted seafood dealers reporting requirements for the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic regions. The agency is seeking public comment on a proposed action aimed at improving the completeness and timeliness of purchase information.
According to NOAA Fisheries, the biggest change addresses the amount of time a dealer has to report a seafood purchase. Currently dealers have two weeks to submit purchase forms, the new change would reduce that to a one week time period. The proposed rule change has been published in the Federal Register -79 FR 31077.
The rule proposes the following:
1. Establishes a new single dealer permit that would be required to purchase products managed in the fishery management plans that include:
- South Atlantic Fishery Management Plans
- Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources
- Golden Crab Fishery of the South Atlantic Region
- Shrimp Fishery of the South Atlantic Region
- Snapper-Grouper Fishery of the South Atlantic
- Spiny Lobster of the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic
- Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Plans
- Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources
- Red Drum Fishery of the Gulf of Mexico
- Reef Fish Resources of the Gulf of Mexico
- Atlantic Fishery Management Plans
- Coastal Migratory Pelagic Resources
- Dolphin and Wahoo Fishery off the Atlantic States
2. Purchase forms would be submitted online, once per week. Forms would be due 11:59 p.m., local time each Tuesday.
3. Dealers reporting purchases of king mackerel landed by the gillnet sector for the Gulf West Coast Florida Southern Sub-Zone who would be required to submit forms daily by 6:00 a.m.
4. If no purchase is made, a no-purchase form must also be submitted online, once per week.
5. Delinquent reports automatically result in Gulf and South Atlantic dealer becoming ineligible to receive the specified federally managed species regardless of any notification by NOAA Fisheries. A dealer would only be authorized to receive the specified federally managed species if the dealer’s previous reports have been submitted and received by NOAA Fisheries.
The new rule addresses commercial fisheries closings. Many commercial fisheries close when landings are projected to reach the commercial annual catch limits. The current reporting frequency reduces the precision of the projections, often resulting in landings significantly less or greater than the annual catch limits. Over fishing affect the ability of stocks to rebuild, while under fishing leave fish un-harvested.
In implementing the proposed rule, NOAA Fisheries will use an effective date four months after the date of publication of the final rule, or four months before permits and reporting are required. It will not require those dealers who already have permits to submit an application for the new generic permit until their current permit comes up for renewal, even if it after the effective date.
“This new proposal will standardize current regulations,” explained Harlon Pearce, chairman of the Gulf Seafood Institute. Photo: Ed Lallo/Newsroom Ink
New dealers will be required to submit an application 30 days prior to the date of issue.
“This new proposal will standardize current regulations,” explained Harlon Pearce, chairman of the Gulf Seafood Institute. “The proposal will replace various current reporting practices that have been ineffective in producing accurate numbers for Gulf and Atlantic fisheries.”
Pearce explained that the new regulation would affect only docks landing fish caught in federal waters. Docks landing fish caught in state waters will be unaffected by the changes.
“The proposed changes will benefit fishermen, docks and conservationists,” said the owner of Harlon’s LA Fish in New Orleans. “It will allow for fisheries to be better managed on a more timely basis.”
According to fellow GSI board member Jim Gossen, chairman of Sysco Louisiana Seafoods in Houston, the proposed changes will have little effect on larger seafood dealers. As one of the largest wholesalers in the South, he sees little change on in his operations.
The amendment and proposed rule change has been posted on the NOAA Fisheries web site. The public comment period for this proposed change ends February 3rd of this year.
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