Framework Action under the Fishery Management Plan for the Shrimp Fishery in the Gulf, U.S. Waters; Shrimp Vessel Position Data Collection

This framework action would modify the current Gulf of America (Gulf) shrimp data collection program by requiring the owner or operator of a vessel with a shrimp moratorium permit, if selected by NOAA Fisheries, to install an electronic logbook (ELB) device that has been type-approved for the Gulf shrimp fishery, which, at a minimum, archives vessel position when on a shrimp fishing trip in the Gulf and automatically transmits that data to NMFS. The purpose of this framework action is to improve data collection in the Gulf shrimp fishery, which grosses $283.9M annually and generates $2.7B in sales. The action proposes moving from the expired 3G cellular ELB program to a new, modernized system that would maintain NOAA Fisheries' ability to estimate and monitor fishing effort in the Gulf shrimp fishery while minimizing to the extent practicable the economic burden on the industry and on the agency.