Fishing boat owners no longer need to share social security numbers with the government

The US Maritime Administration wants to simplify how owners of large fishing vessels prove their US citizenship. This means less paperwork and no more sharing personal details like social security numbers with the government.

For years, owners of large fishing boats had to submit detailed personal information annually to prove they were US citizens. This rule made it harder to own and operate these vessels. The change means less administrative burden for boat owners and less personal data collected by the government.