Regulatory Amendment to the Trade Monitoring Program for Toothfish

NMFS proposes to revise its Antarctic Marine Living Resources Convention Act regulations, including those that implement the trade-monitoring program for frozen and fresh Dissostichus species, commonly marketed or referred to as Chilean seabass or Patagonian toothfish. NMFS also proposes other non-substantive technical and procedural updates. The improvements referenced in this proposed rule include the implementation of the Catch Documentation Scheme for toothfish, tracking of legal toothfish harvesting vessels through the vessel monitoring system, and the establishment of the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement managing bottom fishing activities, including fishing on toothfish.