Atlantic fishermen landing high-value species like swordfish, sharks and tuna would no longer have to file dockside paper reports detailing their catch to regulators under a NOAA Fisheries proposal that would shift data reporting into the digital age.
Under a proposed rule rolled out Thursday, NOAA officials said they would collect such information electronically through onboard electronic vessel trip reporting software, or eVTRs.
The rule, which could be adopted as soon as January in NOAA’s Greater Atlantic and Southeast regions, comes as the Biden administration seeks more efficient ways to collect and manage data from commercial and recreational fishermen plying U.S. waters.
The practice, commonly referred to as “one-stop reporting,” has met mixed reviews from fishermen. While some appreciate the ease and efficiency of reporting fishing data through a computer or digital phone app, others have cautioned that e-reporting requires online data entry and technical skills that some fishermen are unfamiliar with.
