Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program Newsletter (March 2020)
March 05, 2020
March 2020 Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program (SEFHIER) Newsletter. Download the PDF for a full color version.
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![Greetings Permit Holder, The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (Gulf Council) developed a Generic Amendment to the Reef Fish and Coastal Migratory Pelagic Fishery Management Plans to establish electronic reporting requirements for federally permitted charter vessels (For-Hire Reporting Amendment). The Gulf Council gathered comments from charter captains during the development of the For-Hire Reporting Amendment. The Gulf Council approved the For-Hire Amendment for review by the Secretary of Commerce at its January 2017 meeting. A proposed rule published on October 26, 2018, and the comment period ended on January 9, 2019. NOAA Fisheries has approved the For-Hire Amendment; however, publication of a final rule, which will implement the regulations is pending. NOAA Fisheries is working to develop and implement the new for-hire electronic reporting program in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf) reef fish and coastal migratory pelagic fisheries. Technical requirements and challenges that are needed to enable electronic reporting are currently being addressed. Here is an update on the timeline for implementation. The Gulf for-hire electronic reporting program will be implemented in two phases: Phase one will require operators of vessels with federal for-hire permits to: ● Make a trip declaration (hail-out) prior to departing on a trip. ● Submit an electronic fishing report (logbook) for each trip before offloading fish. Phase two will require operators of vessels with federal for-hire permits to: ● Equip vessels with a location tracking device that reports vessel location to NOAA Fisheries. It is anticipated that Phase one will begin on or around September 1, 2020, and Phase two will be implemented later in 2020. The date for Phase one will be announced in the next couple of months. The Gulf Council will send a press release and NOAA Fisheries will post a Fishery Bulletin with the beginning date for Phase two.](https://media.fisheries.noaa.gov/dam-migration/sefhier_march_pg1.jpg)
Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council 4107 W. Spruce Street, Suite 200 Tampa, Florida 33607