Fishing quotas get simpler rules, cutting costs for scallop and tilefish boats

The US Commerce Department is simplifying how fishing boats pay fees for their catch quotas. This means less paperwork and lower costs for those who fish for scallops, tilefish, surfclams, and ocean quahogs.

For years, the system for paying fees on individual fishing quotas was complicated and expensive. This change makes it easier for fishing businesses to operate, potentially freeing up capital that was tied up in administrative overhead. It also means the government is trying to make its own rules less burdensome for the industries it regulates.