U.S. Maritime Administration Proposes to Amend its Fishing Vessel Regulations

On June 10, 2014, the U.S. Maritime Administration proposed amending its regulations governing the documentation of large U.S.-flag fishing vessels. MARAD was granted authority to regulate such documentation in the American Fisheries Act of 1998. The proposed regulations implement changes in that act made in the Coast Guard Authorization Acts of 2010 and 2012. Those changes revised, among other things, the vessel eligibility requirements for enumerated vessels permitting replacements in certain circumstances. Comments are due by August 11, 2014.