October 26, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
Beginning November 10, 2021, GARFO-permitted commercial fishing vessels will be required to have an electronic device onboard the vessel at the time of the trip and submit with that device a completed report electronically within 48 hours of the end of a trip. This also applies to vessels holding a NEFMC for-hire permit. This does not apply to vessels holding only an American lobster permit.
- See our webpage for more information on the requirements, and use this decision tree to help you decide if you need to use eVTR.Paper vessel trip reports packages will no longer be distributed by GARFO.
- After November 10, we will only accept electronic VTRs.
- If you have any delinquent VTRs, please mail them as soon as possible for processing before the deadline.
How to Report
- GARFO, our partners, and several companies have developed applications that meet our eVTR reporting requirements. There are software apps for virtually all smart phones, tablets and computers.
- An up-to-date listing can be found on our Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting Software Options web page along with instructions on how to use GARFO’s apps and links to partner apps.
More Information and Resources
Port Agents:
- Based in offices from Maine through Virginia, Port Agents are available to provide remote and in-person eVTR app assistance to individuals or small groups throughout the region.
- You may contact a Port Agent directly, or through our Vessel Reporting Help Desk at (978) 281-9188 or nmfs.gar.reporting@noaa.gov. Contact information for Port Agents and their areas of coverage can be found here.
Webinars:
- We have held a series of instructional webinars for vessel operators.
- Recordings of these can be found on our events webpage.
Other Resources:
To keep in touch on the latest information regarding eVTR implementation and other vessel reporting topics you can sign up for our bulletins. To sign up or to update your existing subscriptions, go to our sign up page. Once you are on the sign up page follow these directions:
- Bulletins are listed under the Regional Updates subscription topic.
- Under the New England/Mid-Atlantic Updates sub-topic.
- Click the + sign to expand the list, and select eVTR and VMS updates.
- Then click submit at the bottom.
Questions?
Contact your local Port Agent.