MSIB 008-17 (corrected) provides guidance to highly migratory species (HMS) charter fishing vessels, the commercial fishing industry, and the Coast Guard. It represents the Coast Guard’s current interpretation on the applicability of commercial fishing vessel safety requirements and regulations for those vessels fishing for Atlantic HMS. The compliance posture outlined in the bulletin applies if the vessel/owner/operator holds ONLY an Atlantic HMS or Tunas permit.
Today, the Coast Guard is releasing and making available the revised and completed version of the “Voluntary Safety Initiatives and Good Marine Practices for Commercial Fishing Vessels.” Subsequent to the release of the working version of the document in November 2016, the Coast Guard received feedback, comments, and recommendations from several fishing associations and other interested parties. Those responses were considered and incorporated into the revised version where recommended.
The Coast Guard issued a notice that the comment period for submitting public comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking regarding commercial fishing vessels is being extended for 90 additional days.
The Coast Guard published Marine Safety Information Bulletin 11-16 to provide clarifying information on suspension of development of an Alternate Safety Compliance Program (ASCP), and instead, the development of an Enhanced Oversight Program (EOP) and Safety Guidelines for Commercial Fishing Vessels.
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