Saving Seafood

NOAA Fisheries Moves from Paper to Electronic Reporting

October 6, 2021 — NOAA Fisheries is moving away from paper vessel trip reporting requirements in the Greater Atlantic Region. Beginning on November 10, 2021, most fishermen permitted to fish federal marine waters from Cape Hatteras, North Carolina to the Canadian border will be required to submit their vessel trip reports electronically. They must be submitted to NOAA Fisheries within 48 hours of the conclusion of a fishing trip. The new reporting requirement applies to all federally permitted vessels except those holding only a permit for American lobster.

Both the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils recommended to NOAA Fisheries that federally permitted commercial fishing vessels submit vessel trip reports electronically. Upon request of the New England Council, we are also extending this requirement to vessels issued for-hire (charter/party) permits for New England Council-managed fisheries (i.e., Northeast multispecies). Vessels issued a Mid-Atlantic Council for-hire permit have been required to submit vessel trip reports electronically since March 2018. This action is intended to increase data quality and timeliness of vessel trip reports.

Smooth Transition to Electronic Reporting

Captain Mark Palombo of the F/V Terri Ann out of Sandwich, Massachusetts has been using the new electronic reporting system since 2020. The transition for Mark was not difficult. He notes, “Any one of us technologically challenged people can figure it out.” Mark also found electronic trip reporting made it easier to sell to multiple dealers, track what he did and didn’t sell, and find required reporting information such as stat areas. In addition, electronic reporting gives you the ability to email the report to yourself so you have an electronic record of it. You can use pre-populated fields so you don’t have to look up and enter the same information repeatedly.

Vessel operators need a Fish Online account to use NOAA Fisheries electronic VTR  applications and to view their previously submitted eVTRs. However, they can also use other eVTR applications. We sent letters to vessel operators with instructions on the new eVTR reporting requirement and instructions on creating a Fish Online account online earlier this year.

Read the full story from NOAA Fisheries

 

Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting: Upcoming Training Opportunities

September 7, 2021 — The following was released by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council:

Beginning on November 10, 2021, all commercial vessels with federal permits for species managed by the Mid-Atlantic or New England Councils will be required to submit vessel trip reports (VTRs) electronically as eVTRs within 48 hours of the end of a trip. Additional information about the new requirements is available on the Mid-Atlantic Council’s Commercial eVTR page.

Vessel owners and operators are encouraged to transition to electronic reporting as soon as possible. There are several NOAA Fisheries-approved eVTR applications to choose from. Visit the NOAA Fisheries eVTR Software Options page for detailed information about approved applications and other aspects of electronic reporting. NOAA Fisheries has also developed a Decision Tree to help permit holders determine which reporting applications will best meet their needs.

eVTR Training Opportunities

MAFMC eTrips/Mobile 2 Training Webinar

The Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council will host a training webinar on Wednesday, September 15th from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This webinar will include a step-by-step tutorial of ACCSP’s free software application eTrips/Mobile 2 followed by time for questions. This app is compatible with Windows 10 (PC), and both Apple/Android phone and tablet platforms. To benefit from this workshop, we recommend downloading the eTrips Mobile 2 app and obtaining a SAFIS Username and Password before the workshop. Visit the event page for details and webinar connection information. Contact Andy Loftus, MAFMC eVTR Outreach Liaison, with any questions.

NOAA Fisheries Instructional Webinars

NOAA Fisheries Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office is holding weekly, regionally-focused instructional webinars throughout the remainder of the summer and into the fall until implementation on November 10, 2021. The next webinar will be held on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, 4:00 – 6:00 p.m., and will focus on Northern New Jersey. Visit the event page for a complete list of webinar dates, connection information, and recordings from past webinars.