Seafood Dealer Reporting Requirements

This week, the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils are hosting public hearings on an amendment that considers making changes to the current seafood dealer reporting requirements.

The Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils want to improve the accuracy, consistency, and timeliness of data that is reported by seafood dealers to reduce the likelihood that Annual Catch Limits will be exceeded. Making improvements to dealer reported data may also help to decrease the amount of uncertainty that is build into fisheries management decisions.

The proposed amendment has three possible actions:

1.     Consolidate the permits that are required by seafood dealers into one universal permit or separate Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic permits.
2.     Change the frequency and method of seafood dealer reporting.
3.     Change the requirements that exist to maintain a dealer permit.

The Gulf Council would like to know what you think about the options.

Please attend any of the public hearing meetings that are being held this week around the Gulf of Mexico or South Atlantic.

You also have the option of reading this quick guide to the changes being considered, or you can watch this short video presentation.

Then, you can send us your comments.

If you what to know what other people are saying about this proposed amendment check out the comments that have been submitted here.  As always, don’t hesitate to email us if you have any questions.