June 2, 2015 — GLOUCESTER, Mass. — The following was released by NOAA:
Today, NOAA Fisheries published a proposed rule in the Federal Register that would change some of the requirements for upgrading vessels listed on Federal fishing permits.
The proposed rule eliminates:
- The one-time limit on vessel upgrades, but keeps in place the 10% limit on length increases and 20% limit on horsepower increases; and,
- Gross and net tonnages from vessel baseline specifications considered when determining whether a replacement vessel is allowed under the permit.
As part of this action, NOAA Fisheries is also proposing to remove the requirement for vessels owners to submit “did not fish” reports for the months or weeks when their vessel was not fishing.
Read more information on this proposed rule, and send your comments in via the Federal eRulemaking Portal by July 17, 2015.
Questions? Contact Jennifer Goebel, Regional Office, at 978-281-9175 or Jennifer.Goebel@noaa.gov.