Offshore commercial vessel inspections required

The Coast Guard urges commercial fishing vessel operators to take advantage of mandatory safety examinations prior to the enforcement of new regulations Oct. 16.

All commercial fishing, fish tender and fish processing vessels that operate or transit more than 3 nautical miles offshore must demonstrate full compliance with fishing industry vessel safety regulations during a mandatory safety examination.

To demonstrate compliance with this new regulation, fishermen are encouraged to contact Coast Guard fishing vessel examiners to obtain a Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Decal.

The examination requirement is one of several new mandates established by the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010.

The act requires a mandatory safety examination for fishing vessels that operate beyond 3 nautical miles of the baseline regardless of whether the vessel is state-registered or federally documented.

More information about this change and methods for achieving compliance can be viewed at www.fishsafe.info.