The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) has proposed a rule that would require commercial fishermen holding certain federal permits to submit fishing logbooks electronically instead of using the current paper reporting system.
According to the proposal, commercial fishing logbooks are used to collect catch and effort data, including landed species and weights, fishing locations, water depths and gear types. Under the current system, NMFS mails approximately 100-page carbon-copy logbooks and postage-paid return envelopes each December to owners of federally permitted vessels.
The proposed rule would replace paper logbooks with an electronic reporting format and make limited changes to the information fishermen are required to report. The deadline for submitting reports after a fishing trip would remain unchanged.
If adopted, the requirement would apply to federal permits for coastal migratory pelagic species in the Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic dolphinfish and wahoo, South Atlantic snapper-grouper species and Gulf reef fish species.
Vessel owners and operators would still be required to report fishing activity for each trip within seven days of completing a trip or after a month without fishing activity.
NMFS is accepting public comments on the proposed rule through June 26, 2026, according to the release from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy.
