New South Atlantic For-Hire Reporting Requirements – Information for Greater Atlantic Permit Holders
Beginning on January 4, 2021, all fishermen with Atlantic federal charter/headboat permits for Snapper-Grouper, Coastal Migratory Pelagics, and Dolphin/Wahoo issued by NOAA’s Southeast Regional Office (SERO) will be required to electronically report their fishing effort and landings through the NOAA Fisheries Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program.
How Will This Affect For-Hire Operators in the Greater Atlantic Region?
Individuals holding only for-hire permits issued by the Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office (GARFO) will not be impacted by these changes. You can continue submitting your electronic VTRs as you are right now.
Individuals holding both a GARFO for-hire permit and a Southeast Region Office (SERO) charter/headboat permit for any of the species listed above will be subject to new reporting requirements.
Information for Dual GARFO and SERO For-Hire Permit Holders
In early December, SERO will be sending you an informational toolkit that explains the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program. The toolkit is also available here.
New Reporting Requirements
As a result of holding the SERO permit, you will need to report the new information listed below, in addition to the GARFO information you are accustomed to reporting.
-
Socio-economic questions:
-
Trip Fee (dollars);
-
Fuel Used (gallons);
-
Price of Fuel (dollars per gallon).
-
-
Requirement to submit did-not-fish reports in weeks in which no fishing activity occurs in any fishery.
How to Report
-
As a holder of a SERO permit, you will be required to meet these reporting requirements regardless of where you fish or what species you target.
-
If you have been reporting using eTrips/Mobile 2, simply continue to report with this software as you have been, as the new fields will automatically appear in January and this system meets both regions’ requirements.
-
If you have been reporting using the Fish Online eVTR application, we strongly encourage you to convert to eTrips/Mobile 2 to satisfy the reporting requirements of both GARFO and SERO. At present, Fish Online does not meet SERO reporting requirements.
When to Report:
Reports must still be submitted within 48 hours of landing to meet GARFO requirements.
For Assistance with Reporting Requirements Contact
-
Your local GARFO Port Agent
-
GARFO reporting group at 978-281-9246
-
If you are a Fish Online user and want to switch to using eTrips, call 1-800-984-0810 or visit https://www.accsp.org/what-we-do/safis/etrips-mobile-instructions/
Additional Information
-
SERO Webinars to answer your questions: scheduled for 10:00 AM-12:00 PM and 6:00-8:00 PM, EST on December 16, 2020. Details are available here.
-
SERO Customer service hotline: available from 8:00-4:30, EST at 1-833-707-1632.
-
Customer service email: ser.electronicreporting@noaa.gov
Source: Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council
