NOAA Extends Digital Fish Ticket Rules for Another Year
Published Date: 5/18/2026
Notice
Summary
NOAA is asking for public feedback on renewing its electronic fish ticket program that helps track groundfish catches on the West Coast. This affects commercial fishers and fish buyers who must keep submitting digital catch reports. Comments are open until July 17, 2026, and the update aims to keep data collection smooth without adding extra costs or hassle.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.
Mandatory Electronic Fish Tickets
If you are a shore-based first receiver (a person or business that receives, purchases, or takes custody of catch onshore directly from a vessel) you are required to use a web-based, NMFS-approved electronic fish ticket program to send catch reports for West Coast groundfish. This requirement applies to participants in the Pacific Coast shore-based commercial groundfish fisheries including the shore-based IFQ program, the limited entry fixed gear fishery, and the open access fixed gear fishery, and is a regulatory obligation under 50 CFR 660.113.
24‑Hour Submission Deadline
First receivers must submit electronic fish ticket catch reports within 24 hours from the date of landing using the NMFS-approved web-based program. The 24-hour timing requirement applies to landings data that feed management of Pacific Coast groundfish catch allocations and limits.
Different Time Burdens by State
Estimated time to fill and submit an electronic fish ticket is 10 minutes for Washington and California landings and 2 minutes for Oregon landings because Oregon already requires electronic fish tickets. The agency estimates about 100 respondents total and an annual burden of 667 hours across respondents.
No Monetary Cost, Estimated Burden Totals
The agency estimates 100 respondents, a total annual burden of 667 hours, and an estimated total annual cost to the public of $0 for this information collection (OMB Control Number 0648-0738). Respondent participation is required by regulatory compliance.
Fish Ticket Data Stored in PacFIN
Electronic fish ticket data submitted by first receivers is received and stored by the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) and maintained in the Pacific Fisheries Information Network (PacFIN) database. The data supports management of catch allocations and limits for the Pacific Coast groundfish fisheries.
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