Southeast Anglers Log Hauls: NOAA's Paper Trail Continues
Published Date: 7/18/2025
Notice
Summary
NOAA is asking to keep collecting fishing logbook info from about 14,000 fishermen in the Southeast U.S. This helps manage fish and protect ocean life, with most forms taking just a few minutes to fill out. They’re extending the current approval and inviting comments for 30 more days—no new fees, just keeping things running smoothly.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Mandatory Southeast Fishing Logbooks Continued
If you operate a fishing business in the Gulf, South Atlantic, or Caribbean, NOAA is extending the current OMB-approved logbook collection (OMB Control No. 0648-0016) that requires about 14,083 respondents to keep and submit trip and catch logbooks. The collection imposes a total annual burden of 49,407 hours (examples: Trip Declaration 2 minutes, Head boat Logbook 9 minutes, Annual Cost Survey 45 minutes, Gulf for-hire reporting program 5 hours), is mandatory under the Magnuson-Stevens Act, and the agency is allowing a 30-day public comment period starting with the July 18, 2025 notice.
Regulatory Revision Work Underway
NOAA states it is drafting revised regulations to comply with a U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals order that invalidated previous regulations; meanwhile, the current information collection still reflects the prior requirements and NOAA says it will submit a future request to revise the collection to align with the court-approved rule.
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