Fish Paperwork Overhaul: Tuna Traders Face More Forms
Published Date: 12/8/2025
Notice
Summary
Seafood dealers who handle highly migratory fish like tuna need to keep reporting their catches, sales, and trades using updated forms. The government is asking for approval to continue and improve these reports, which take a few minutes each and add up to about 6,863 hours yearly. If you’re involved, get ready to keep those reports coming and share your thoughts within 30 days!
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Mandatory dealer reports cost time
If you operate as a seafood dealer handling highly migratory species (tunа, bluefin, sharks, swordfish), you must continue to submit mandatory catch, sales, trade, and landing reports on daily, weekly, and biweekly schedules. The collection covers 2,141 respondents and totals 6,863 annual burden hours, with individual tasks ranging from 1 minute (tagging) up to 120 minutes (authorization of non‑governmental validation).
Email collection moved to permit process
New HMS dealers no longer need to separately submit an email address by phone or email because email collection is now part of the annual dealer permit application process. The notice states the burden estimates for separate email collection are no longer applicable for this information collection.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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