Saving Seafood

Please Join the Discussion: NOAA’s Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program in the South Atlantic

October 8, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

What:

NOAA Fisheries newly appointed Southeast Regional Administrator, Andy Strelcheck will provide an update and take questions about the agency’s Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program. The call is moderated by an operator with callers being placed into a queue to ask questions after a few opening remarks.    

When:

Thursday, October 14, from 12-2pm EST

Where:

Dial 1-888-282-0362

Passcode: 8210831   

Get Involved:

The next South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Meeting will be December 6-10 at the Beaufort Hotel in Beaufort, NC

https://safmc.net/safmc-meetings/council-meetings/

 

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

 

NOAA Offers Online Webinars for Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish and Coastal Migratory Pelagic For-Hire Permit Holders (Topic: Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program Vessel Monitoring System Requirements)

August 31, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office is in the process of implementing Phase 2 of the Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program, requiring a position reporting device, or vessel monitoring system (VMS), to be permanently affixed to a vessel and transmitting at all times.  A series of constituent webinars will be held in September 2021 in order to assist the public with preparing for the implementation of this requirement.

When:

Webinars:

  • Tuesday, September 7th, 2021, 6:30-7:30 PM, ET
  • Thursday, September 16th, 2021, 2:00-3:00 PM, ET
  • Wednesday, September 22nd, 2021, 6:30-7:30 PM, ET
  • Tuesday, September 28th, 2021, 10:00-11:00 AM, ET

To register for the webinars and access additional meeting information go to: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing-data/southeast-hire-electronic-reporting-program.

Why:

These webinars will provide program participants information about the new VMS requirement for the federally permitted Gulf of Mexico Reef Fish and Coastal Migratory Pelagic for-hire participants.  The webinars will include information such as timelines, approved VMS units, and reporting requirements.  There will also be plenty of time for questions.

The position reporting requirement is essential for validating the information collected through the Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program.  The data collected from the VMS units are expected to result in enhanced tracking of recreational catch limits in the Gulf of Mexico; thereby, improving fisheries management.

Read the full release here

eVTR Announcements: Upcoming Webinars and Web App Update

August 12, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

The next instructional eVTR webinars will be held Thursday, August 19 and Tuesday, August 24 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. These webinars will provide vessel operators and others with a walkthrough of the eTrips Mobile 2, Fish Online Apple iOS and Fish Online Web App as options for submitting your eVTRs.

How Do I Join?

More information can be found on our webpage for this series: How to Use Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting Apps. This page includes webinar login information.

Read the full release here

 

Reminder: NOAA Fisheries Continues Monthly For-Hire Electronic Reporting Webinars

July 15, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office is hosting monthly question and answer webinar sessions to assist participants with program information and compliance.

When:

The next webinar is scheduled for Tuesday, July 20, 2021, from 6:30-8:00 PM, E.T.

To register for the webinars and access additional information, such as tool-kits and instructional videos, go to: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing-data/southeast-hire-electronic-reporting-program. 

Additional Information:

Program staff and vendor representatives will participate in these webinars to answer questions and resolve issues identified by users.  These webinars are for anyone with an interest in the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program and specifically, any captain, owner, or lessee running a headboat or charter trip on a vessel with any of the following federal for-hire permits: Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic fish, Atlantic dolphin wahoo, South Atlantic snapper-grouper, Gulf of Mexico reef fish, or Gulf of Mexico coastal migratory pelagic fish.

NOAA Fisheries implemented the new Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program in January 2021.  This program provides more timely catch, effort, and discard information from federally-permitted for-hire vessels.  Our goals in these webinars are to provide fishermen with quality customer service, improve understanding of federal for-hire data collection, and explain ways the reporting apps may simplify the reporting requirements.  NOAA Fisheries respects your time and business operations, so please continue to submit suggestions on ways we can improve your understanding of the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program.  We look forward to working with you.

Please call our customer service hotline with any questions (available from 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, ET) at 1-833-707-1632 or email us at ser.electronicreporting@noaa.gov.

NOAA Fisheries Offers More Ways to Receive News and Updates About the New Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program

June 10, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office continues to look for and offer ways to communicate news and updates related to the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting program.  Fishermen may now sign up for three new fishery bulletins specific to where they fish.  These bulletins are designed for this program and all Southeast federal for-hire/charter boat permit holders.  They will contain important information not covered in the other bulletins you may already be receiving.

More Information on How to Sign-Up:

  • NOAA Fisheries has created three new fishery bulletin groups:
    • For-Hire Electronic Reporting General Interest Updates: information relevant to all program participants
    • For-Hire Electronic Reporting Gulf of Mexico Updates: information relevant to Gulf of Mexico program requirements only
    • For-Hire Electronic Reporting South Atlantic Updates: information relevant to South Atlantic program requirements only
    • You may sign up for one or all of the bulletin groups.

To sign up for these bulletins, go to: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/USNOAAFISHERIES/subscriber/new.

Once you are on the sign up page follow these directions:

  • Bulletins are listed under the Regional Updates subscription topic.
  • Under the Southeast Updates sub-topic, click the + sign to expand the list,
  • Check the boxes for the bulletins of interest,
  • Then click submit

NOAA Fisheries implemented the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting program in January 2021.  This program is expected to provide more timely catch, effort, and discard information from federally-permitted for-hire vessels, be used in future fish population assessments, and inform management decisions.

Please call our customer service hotline with any questions (available Monday-Friday, 8:00-4:30, EST) at 1-833-707-1632 or email us at ser.electronicreporting@noaa.gov.

To access additional information, such as tool-kits and instructional videos, go to: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing-data/southeast-hire-electronic-reporting-program.

NOAA Fisheries Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Account Set-Up and Reporting

June 4, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

This is a reminder: fishermen with Federal Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic/Atlantic For-Hire charter/headboat permits are required to comply with the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting program.  Fishermen with these permits are required to create an account and begin reporting electronically through one of the approved reporting applications.

More Information:

Fishermen with Gulf of Mexico reef fish or Gulf of Mexico coastal migratory pelagic Federal charter/headboat permits are required to:

  • Submit an electronic declaration each time the vessel leaves the dock
  • Report logbooks electronically at the end of each trip before offloading any catch

Gulf of Mexico Federal charter/headboat holders will be required to have an active position reporting unit always transmitting the vessel’s location. The effective date for this will be announced in the future, with an anticipated start date for the end of 2021.

Fishermen with South Atlantic snapper-grouper, Atlantic coastal migratory pelagic, or Atlantic dolphin wahoo Federal charter/headboat permits are required to submit an electronic fishing report weekly (on Tuesday) following a fishing week.  For those weeks with no fishing activity, South Atlantic/Atlantic Federal charter/headboat permit holders are required to submit no fishing reports.

Accurate and timely reporting of logbooks is a requirement for maintaining and renewing your Federal charter vessel/headboat permits.

Please refer to the toolkit mailed in early December 2020 for information on the program and how to set up your account. You may also find information on the program requirements, electronic copies of the toolkit, and account set up on our website:  https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing-data/southeast-hire-electronic-reporting-program

If you have any questions or if you have not received a toolkit, please contact the Southeast Electronic Reporting Customer Service line at (833)707-1632 or send an email to SER.electronicreporting@noaa.gov.

Reminder: Update your Fish Online Account by June 1

May 26, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

As part of our conversion to online permitting and eVTR, we are changing the way that vessel owners and operators login to Fish Online starting June 1.

To access Fish Online, instead of entering your permit number and PIN combination, you must now login using your personal Fish Online user account. We made this change to increase your account security and to enable vessel owners to give access, or “entitlements,” to their vessel records to other trusted people while managing multiple vessels in one account. We began implementing this process in 2020 and continue to reach out to vessel owners and operators to provide information and offer technical assistance.

Vessel Owners

Earlier this year, in anticipation of our annual vessel permit renewal season, we mailed instructions to vessel owners on how to update their accounts. Owners must use their user accounts to:

  • Use services such as permit renewals and electronic reporting.
  • Review landings data submitted by operators and dealers.
  • Provide account access to other trusted people.
  • Manage multiple vessels in one account.

If you are a vessel owner and have not yet created your login credentials, we strongly encourage you to do so by going to the How to Create an Account in Fish Online instructions located on our Vessel Trip Reporting web page. These step-by-step directions demonstrate how to create a validated Fish Online account by using either a Credential Security Code (CSC) or by calling our Help Desk.

Vessel Operators

Vessel operators also need a Fish Online account to use any of GARFO’s eVTR applications and to view their previously submitted eVTRs. Starting last month, we began sending notices to vessel operators and will continue this process throughout the summer. Once vessel operators receive a letter in the mail, if they have not already, they should create their user accounts as soon as possible by going to the How to Create an Account in Fish Online instructions located on our Vessel Trip Reporting web page. These step-by-step directions demonstrate how to create a validated Fish Online account by using either the Credential Security Code (CSC) in the letter we mailed to you or by calling our Help Desk.

Questions?

For assistance with obtaining your CSC code, entitling vessels, or creating your Fish Online user account:

  • Call our Vessel Reporting Help Desk at 978 -281-9188 from the phone number listed on your vessel permit. This is needed to verify your identity.
  • Contact your local Port Agent.

NOAA Fisheries Announces Additional For-Hire Electronic Reporting Webinars

May 11, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

Key Message:

NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Regional Office will host monthly question and answer webinar sessions to assist participants with program information and compliance.

When:

The webinars are scheduled for the following dates and times:

  • Tuesday, May 18, 2021, from 6:30-8:00 PM, ET
  • Tuesday, June 15, 2021, from 6:30-8:00 PM, ET
  • Tuesday, July 20, 2021, from 6:30-8:00 PM, ET

To register for the webinars and access additional information, such as tool-kits and instructional videos, go to: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/southeast/recreational-fishing-data/southeast-hire-electronic-reporting-program. 

Additional Information:

Program staff and vendor representatives will participate in these webinars to answer questions and resolve issues identified by users.  These webinars are for anyone with an interest in the Southeast Electronic For-Hire Program and specifically, any captain, owner, or lessee running a headboat or charter trip on a vessel with any of the following federal for-hire permits: Atlantic coastal migratory pelagics, Atlantic dolphin wahoo, South Atlantic snapper-grouper, Gulf of Mexico reef fish, or Gulf of Mexico coastal migratory pelagics.

NOAA Fisheries implemented the new Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program in January 2021.  This program provides more timely catch, effort, and discard information from federally-permitted for-hire vessels.  Our goals in these webinars are to provide fishermen with quality customer service, improve understanding of federal for-hire data collection, and explain ways the apps may simplify the reporting requirements.  NOAA Fisheries respects your time and business operations, so please continue to submit suggestions on ways we can improve your understanding of the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program.  We look forward to working with you.

Please call our customer service hotline with any questions (available from 8:00 AM-4:30 PM, ET) at 1-833-707-1632 or email us at ser.electronicreporting@noaa.gov.

Early Adopters: Positive Feedback from Commercial Fishermen Reporting Electronically

April 8, 2021 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

This fall, many commercial and all federally permitted for-hire fishermen will be required to report electronically rather than using paper logbooks. This will increase reporting efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness of the fisheries data we use to manage fish stocks in our region. Some fishermen have already begun to use electronic reporting and are finding it easy to use.

Captain Ryan Kelly, F/V Seaquestor II

Ryan Kelly is the owner/operator of the F/V Seaquestor II out of Barnegat Light, New Jersey. He has been reporting electronically on his iPhone for several years using our iOS Fish Online app.

Captain Kelly operates multiple fishing vessels and believes that reporting electronically is more efficient than using paper reports. Two of the things he likes best:

  • The automatic function that sends his reports quickly to federal or state agencies
  • The “quick pick” buttons for frequently used information so he doesn’t have to enter the same things each time

This feature is especially helpful in rough weather. Captain Kelly’s experience with electronic reporting has been positive, and he is helping other fishermen learn how to do it themselves.

Captain Patrick Fehily, F/V Major Expense and F/V Market Price

In Point Pleasant, New Jersey, Patrick Fehily, F/V Major Expense and F/V Market Price, is new to electronic reporting but already recognizes its benefits. He appreciates that the Fish Online app ensures that all entries are complete and correct before a report can be submitted. That means he will not have to make corrections later. Also, the app prevents any handwriting or code issues. Captain Fehily says that it’s “actually one of the easiest apps I have ever used in my life, and it’s so easy to use as an operator that you can’t really make a mistake with it.”  He encourages other fishermen to start using it now and not wait until the last minute when NOAA Fisheries staff will be very busy assisting fishermen’s transition to electronic reporting.

How to Report Electronically

All fishermen can choose from several smart devices and web-based apps to report electronically. For more information and technical support, go to Vessel Trip Reporting or contact your local Port Agent.