Feds Try to Improve Fishing Data With New Monitoring Rules

Feds Try to Improve Fishing Data With New Monitoring Rules

Source: Associated Press

1/20/2023

Feds Try to Improve Fishing Data With New Monitoring Rules

Credit: AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty

Changes to U.S. rules about the monitoring of Northeast commercial fishing activities are going into effect this month with a goal of providing more accurate information about some of the nation’s oldest fisheries

The U.S. mandates observers to work onboard fishing boats to collect data and make sure fishermen adhere to rules and quotas. The relationship between fishermen and observers is sometimes difficult, and fishermen have long complained the monitoring program heaps costs on them.