Vessel Trip Reporting in the Greater Atlantic Region

Operators of federally permitted vessels must submit a vessel trip report (VTR) for each fishing trip. VTRs are important because they provide data that informs fishery science and management decisions. 

• Read the VTR Instructions to learn about the fields that make up the VTR and the characteristics of the required data.
• For general questions about vessel trip reporting, call (978) 281-9246 or email us.

Notice to Fishing Vessel Owners and Operators

We recently published a final rule implementing electronic VTR requirements for all federally permitted commercial fisheries and New England For-Hire Vessels, (vessels issued a federal Mid-Atlantic for-hire permit have been required to submit vessel trip reports electronically since March 2018). This rule will require federally permitted vessels to submit all of their vessel trip reports electronically, beginning November 10, 2021. Vessel owners are encouraged to transition to electronic reporting as soon as possible. For more information, see the rule summary. As we develop new educational and outreach material, we will update our websites and share the new information through our social media outlets.

How to Report

If you are the operator of a federally permitted for-hire vessel who fishes for a species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council or the operator of a federally-permitted private recreational tilefish vessel, you are required to submit an Electronic Vessel Trip Report (eVTR).

All other for-hire or commercial operators holding a GARFO permit have the option of submitting electronic or paper reports. 

Electronic reporting makes the collection of data on fishing vessel activity more efficient, convenient, and timely for the fishing industry, fishery managers, and other data users. For more information or assistance, refer to the following contacts:

• Lindsey Bergmann, (978) 282-8418 
• Jim St.Cyr, (978) 281-9369

You may also contact your local port agent for assistance.

Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting

eVTR Software Options

Reports submitted via eVTR meet all of GARFO’s reporting requirements for both commercial (except ITQ clams) and For-Hire fishing.

You may choose to use any of the following software applications to submit your eVTRs:

1. GARFO eVTR Reporting

GARFO offers two different platforms for electronic reporting: NOAA Fish Online iOS Reporting and GARFO Fish Online Web-Based Reporting. These platforms support the following features:

• Create a new eVTR
• Edit an existing report
• Print existing reports (Web Portal)
• Be alerted to any errors made
• Auto-fill forms
• Start and complete a form at different times prior to landing

A. NOAA Fish Online iOS App

NOAA Fish Online iOS may be used on Apple tablets and iPhones and is available through the Apple App Store; use the search string “NOAA EVTR”.

• NOAA Fish Online for iOS App How-To Card (provides basic assistance for using the NOAA Fish Online app)

• Tips for Completing a For-hire eVTR on Our Fish Online Mobile App

• How to Create a Fish Online Account and Link to a Vessel

• For assistance, call (978) 281-9188 or email the GARFO Helpdesk 

B. GARFO Fish Online Web Portal

Access the NOAA Fish Online Web portal through any internet browser.

• How to Create a Fish Online Account and Link to a Vessel
• For assistance or to obtain NOAA Fish Online log-in information, call (978) 281-9188 or email the GARFO Helpdesk 

2. Fisheries Logbook and Data Recording Software (FLDRS) - Study Fleet Vessels Only

FLDRS is a program that collects high resolution fisheries data for research while also satisfying eVTR requirements.

Commercial operators interested in enrolling in this program should email the Northeast Fisheries Science Center or call us at (508) 495-2121 regarding potential opportunities.

If you do not wish to provide such data, you should choose another application to report your trips.

3. SAFIS eTrips

ACCSP provides SAFIS eTrips software for electronic reporting of fishing activity data. ACCSP offers two different platforms for this capability: eTrips/Mobile2 and eTrips Online.

A. SAFIS eTrips/mobile v2

SAFIS eTrips/mobile v2 can capture catch and effort data at sea without the benefit of an Internet connection. This application is available on smart phones and tablets on both Apple and Android platforms, and also on PCs and laptops running Windows 10.

• Download the application to your tablet from the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Microsoft Store (Start Menu).

• Tips for Completing a For-Hire eVTR on the eTrips/Mobile v.2 App

• For assistance or to obtain SAFIS log-in information, call the eTrips Helpdesk at (800) 984-0810 or email SAFIS Support.

B. SAFIS eTrips Online

SAFIS eTrips Online is the web version of ACCSP’s eTrips application and may be used by any internet browser.

• eTrips Online requires an internet connection. 
• Available through the SAFIS portal on the ACCSP web site.

For assistance or to obtain SAFIS log-in information, call the eTrips helpdesk at (800) 984-0810 or email SAFIS Support.

4. Teem Fish Monitoring: Elog Software

Teem Fish provides an electronic data collection and reporting tool.

• For assistance, contact Kelsey Blair or TeemFish Support.

5. Harbor Light Software: eFIN

eFIN satisfies eVTR reporting requirements for federally-permitted private recreational tilefish vessels. eFIN is available for smart phones and tablets on both Apple and Android platforms. 

• Download the application from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. 
• Tips for Completing an eFIN Recreational Tilefish eVTR
• For eFIN assistance, call the Harbor Light Helpdesk at (800) 984-0810 or email eFIN support. 
• To log on to eFIN, use NOAA Fish Online log-in information. Call (978) 281-9188, or email GARFO Helpdesk to create a Fish Online account. 

To Obtain an eVTR Password

All vessel operators who will be completing an eVTR must obtain a confidential password that will serve as an electronic signature and is required when submitting an eVTR. To obtain an eVTR password, please contact us at (978) 281-9188 or email us.

The only exception is for vessel operators who intend to use SAFIS eTrips as their electronic reporting application, in which case your SAFIS username and password will serve as your electronic signature. To obtain a SAFIS eTrips username and password please call (800) 984-0810 or email SAFIS Support.

eVTR App Compatibility Summary

** Pending Recertification

eVTR Software Development Reference Information

All eVTR software applications must meet specific technical requirements. Use this section to obtain information on eVTR format and content required by developers for building software. Topics include:

• eVTR Technical Requirements Document (includes API reference)
• eVTR Software Application Approval Process
• Support Tables

eVTR Technical Requirements Document

This document provides the technical information that you need to satisfy the programming requirements for electronic reporting.

• eVTR Technical Requirements Guide Rev. 1.2.1

Software Application Approval Process

eVTR Software Application Approval Guide

Guide documents the process for software development organizations to obtain certification to offer eVTR services to the fishing industry.

• eVTR Software Application Approval Guide Rev. 1.0

eVTR Software Application Test Trips File

MS Excel file contains sample eVTR trips with data sets that test both typical and atypical scenarios. GARFO maintains an identical set of sample eVTR trips in our automated test system, so that we can verify how our API has managed them. This eliminates uncertainty both for developers and for GARFO personnel.

• eVTR Software Application Test Trips Rev. 1.0

Support Tables

GARFO will test and confirm for developers whether their applications meet the technical requirements.

• Table 1 - eVTR Dealer Listing
• Table 2 - eVTR Gear Codes
• Table 3 - eVTR Location to Area
• Table 4 - eVTR Port Listing
• Table 5 - eVTR Species Codes
• Table 6 - eVTR Trip Activity Types
• Table 7 - eVTR Trip Types

NOTE: Contact Lindsey Bergmann, (978) 282-8418, with questions about specific API implementations before committing organization resources to those implementations.

Paper Reports

You may still report using paper vessel trip reports. Call (978) 281-9157 or log in to Fish Online to request new logbooks.

Interactive Voice Response System

There are several specific situations in which fishermen fishing in federal waters in the Greater Atlantic Region must declare their trips, report their landings, and/or make other notifications via our Interactive Voice Response System (IVR). The sections below summarize the required information and schedule for submission:

Trip Declarations

• Northeast Multispecies Handgear A and Small Vessel Category (Category C) vessels in the common pool fishing in a single Broad Stock Area (BSA) must submit a trip declaration less than 1 hour prior to leaving port.
• Northeast Multispecies Handgear A vessel in a sector fishing in a single BSA must submit a trip declaration less than 1 hour prior to leaving port, if the vessels’ sector has been granted that exemption.
• NE Multispecies (common pool and sector) and Scallop Occasional permitted vessels fishing both inside and outside of the demarcation line on the same trip must submit a trip declaration less than 1 hour prior to leaving port.
• Monkfish-only vessels (that are not required to use VMS based due to other permit) must submit a trip declaration less than 1 hour prior to leaving port.
• Monkfish RSA vessels must submit their trip start declaration within 24 hours prior to departing port to start your trip and a trip end declaration within 24 hours after docking to end your trip.
• Vessels participating in an Exempted Fishing Permit and not required to use VMS must submit their trip start declaration within 24 hours prior to departing port to start your trip and a trip end declaration within 24 hours after docking to end your trip.
• Vessels confirming their previous VMS declaration for a new trip must submit a trip declaration less than 1 hour prior to leaving port.
• Vessels temporarily authorized to submit a trip declarations via IVR must submit a trip declaration less than 1 hour prior to leaving port.

Landings Reports

• Open Access Category D Herring vessels must submit catch reports weekly by midnight on Tuesday of the following week for all herring caught (kept and discarded).

Other Requirements

• Northeast Multispecies vessels in the common pool, excluding Handgear A and Small Vessel Category (Category C) vessels, must call in and declare a 20-day spawning block period between March 1 and May 31 of each calendar. The 20-day spawning block must be declared before May 12 of each calendar year, or the vessel is prohibited from fishing for, possessing, or landing any regulated species, or ocean pout, or non-exempt species during the period from May 12 through May 31.
• A Northeast Multispecies day gillnet vessel must declare its 120 days out of the non-exempt gillnet fishing on or before the day the block begins.
• A vessel seeking a day-at-sea (DAS) credit for a trip that ended prior to setting and/or hauling gear must do so at the time the trip is canceled or as soon as possible prior to returning to port.

Two Ways to Report Via IVR:

Option 1: Report online. To access this simple system, log in to Fish Online and click the ‘"IVR Reporting" link to the left.

You will need a PIN number to log in to Fish Online. If you do not have one or have technical issues with the IVR system, call (978) 281-9188.

Option 2: Report via telephone. You may call (888) 284-4904 to report your landings. If you need assistance, call:

• IVR and VMS reporting requirements and questions: (978) 281-9315
• IVR system technical difficulties: (978) 281-9227

Additional help is available in our Current Year's Reporting Weeks.