Regulatory Impact Review for a Final Rule to Provide for More Effective Monitoring of At-sea Flow Scales

This Regulatory Impact Review (RIR) evaluates the costs and benefits of an action to revise regulations governing the use and approval of scales for weighing fish at-sea. The purpose of these regulations is to reduce the potential for fraud, improve catch accounting accuracy, and bring regulations up to date with changes in technology. This RIR is required under Presidential Executive Order (E.O.) 12866 (58 FR 51735, September 30,1993). The use of at-sea scales can provide very precise and potentially accurate estimates of catch. These estimates are especially important in catch share fisheries where catch accounting methods must be verifiable. At-sea scales have proven to be reliable and are now used to account for the vast majority of catch by catcher-processors fishing off Alaska. Since NMFS first implemented weighing requirements for some catcher processors, in 1998, the program has grown dramatically; scale technologies have evolved; and NMFS has developed greater expertise with at-sea scales. However, recent concerns have arisen with respect to adequate compliance with flow scale regulations, suggesting that catch estimates based on scale weights could systematically underestimate harvest in those fisheries dependent on scale weights for catch accounting, unless these concerns are addressed. Modifications to the at-sea scales program will reduce the potential for fraud, improve catch accounting accuracy, and bring regulations up to date with changes in technology. 2014 NMFS (National Marine Fisheries Service) AKR (Alaska Region) Submitted Public Domain 1862