NMFS Proposes to Adopt Electronic System for Bluefin Tuna Import/Export Reporting

The National Marine Fisheries Service is proposing to adopt a new electronic system for reporting imports, exports and re-exports of Bluefin tuna (here). Under the proposal, NMFS would replace the current paper-based Bluefin tuna catch documentation (BCD) program with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas’ new eBCD system, which may be required by all ICCAT members, including the U.S., “as early as March 1, 2016,” said the agency. The eBCD system was designed to collect largely the same information that is currently collected under the paper-based BCD program, said NMFS. Comments are due Nov. 9.