2025-23080Notice

NOAA Keeps Clam Fishers Quota Forms Flowing Smoothly

Published Date: 12/17/2025

Notice

Summary

NOAA is asking to keep collecting info from about 180 surfclam and ocean quahog fishers to manage their fishing quotas fairly. This update extends current paperwork rules, making sure fishers keep reporting details like permit applications and transfers without adding extra hassle. The public has 30 more days to comment, and the whole process takes about 194 hours yearly across all fishers.

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 3 costs, 0 mixed.

Continued Mandatory ITQ Reporting

NOAA will continue requiring surfclam and ocean quahog Individual Transfer Quota (ITQ) permit holders to submit permit applications, renewals, transfer requests, and ownership information. The collection covers about 180 unique respondents, with a total annual burden of 194 hours and OMB Control Number 0648-0240; routine forms take 5 minutes each, new ownership forms take 1 hour, and the shucking-at-sea application takes 30 minutes.

Observer Requirement for At-Sea Shucking

Vessels that shuck surfclams or ocean quahogs at sea must carry a National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)-approved observer on board to certify the amount harvested because there is no standard conversion factor from shucked to unshucked product.

PSP Testing Rules for Georges Bank Fishery

Permit holders who fish in the portion of Georges Bank reopened beginning in 2012 must comply with the Protocol for Onboard Screening and Dockside Testing for paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) developed with FDA and adopted by the National Shellfish Sanitation Program in October 2011. This testing is required to verify that clams from the reopened area are safe to eat.

Your PRIA Score

Score Hidden

Personalized for You

How does this regulation affect your finances?

Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to start

Key Dates

Published Date
12/17/2025

Department and Agencies

Department
Independent Agency
Agency
Commerce Department
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Source: View HTML

Related Federal Register Documents

Previous / Next Documents

Back to Federal Register

Take It Personal

Get Your Personalized Policy View

Start a Free Government Policy Watch to see how policy affects your household, then upgrade to PRIA Full Coverage for year-round monitoring.

Already have an account? Sign in