The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) reminds the fleet of changes to the Observer Declare and Deploy System (ODDS) beginning January 1, 2025.
Changes in ODDS for 2025 include:
- For non-EM trips, both selected and non-selected, users can and should use trip editing to modify existing trips.
- For non-EM selected trips, users can no longer cancel trips.
- For non-EM non-selected trips and all EM trips, users can edit and modify trips, including after the trip start date/time has passed.
- AIS can edit non-EM selected trips.
- For EM vessels:
- A new “EM Performance” tab within ODDS allows a vessel owner/operator or ODDS user to view any EM performance issues that have been logged (e.g., camera obstructed, etc.).
- Drive Reports on the status of hard drives will no longer be provided to ensure cost efficiency requirements are met.
- Emails on EM performance and issues are sent to the provided email addresses when issues are logged.
As in previous years, in 2025 vessels owners, operators and other ODDS users -
- Can log up to 3 trips at a time.
- Must log trips at least 72 hours in advance to allow observer placement if needed.
- Must accurately log trips.
- Must close out the trip.
Please reach out to the following POC’s if you have questions:
- ODDS.HELP@NOAA.GOV - This is not monitored 24/7, and is generally limited to office hours.
- ODDS website http://odds.afsc.noaa.gov - Available 24/7.
- ODDS Call Center: 1-855-747-6377
Changes to ODDS in 2025 are described in the Final 2025 Annual Deployment Plan which can be found at the NPFMC 2024 December Meeting Agenda webpage.
