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NOAA Fisheries is proposing to merge the regulations for the surfclam and ocean quahog vessel logbook with the regulations for the standard Vessel Trip Report (VTR) that applies to other commercial fisheries in the Greater Atlantic Region. The changes proposed in this action would eliminate the separate surfclam/ocean quahog logbook. Instead, it would require surfclam and ocean quahog vessel operators to complete the standard eVTR containing additional data fields to collect information specific to the individual transferable quota (ITQ) fishery, including the ITQ allocation number and the cage tag numbers for all cages being landed.
Combining these regulations would not increase or substantially alter the reporting requirements for surfclam and ocean quahog vessel operators. The proposed change would clarify what information is required to be reported for each fishing trip and would eliminate the confusion that has occurred from having two different sets of reporting regulations.
For more details, read the proposed rule as published in the Federal Register. You may submit comments through the online portal until May 5, 2023.
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