NMFS announced two changes in regulations that apply to federal fishing permit holders starting Aug. 26.

First, they have eliminated the requirement for vessel owners to submit “did not fish” reports for the months or weeks when their vessel was not fishing.

Some of the restrictions for upgrading vessels listed on federal fishing permits have also been removed.

They have eliminated the one-time vessel upgrade restriction, but kept in place the 10 percent limit on length increases and 20 percent limit on horsepower increases.

They have removed gross and net tonnages from the vessel specifications considered when determining whether a vessel upgrade is allowed.

For more information, read the final rule as filed in the Federal Register, or the permit holder bulletin.