Electronic Logbook Reporting in Commercial Fisheries of the Gulf of America and Atlantic

NMFS proposes to implement management measures described in amendments to four fishery management plans (FMPs) in the Gulf, South Atlantic, and Atlantic, referenced here as the Commercial Electronic Logbook Amendments. If implemented by NMFS, the Commercial Electronic Logbook Amendments and this proposed rule would require submission of certain commercial fishing logbooks in an electronic format rather than the current paper format. NMFS is also proposing minor changes to some of the required data fields in the logbooks determined to be necessary to successfully transition from paper to electronic reporting. The purpose of this proposed rule is to increase the accuracy and efficiency of fisheries data that NMFS receives from federally permitted fishermen participating in the applicable commercial fisheries that occur in the Gulf, South Atlantic, and Atlantic.