When vessels go to sea in many fisheries on the West Coast, they must declare the gear type for the trip to NOAA Fisheries’ Office of Law Enforcement. Until recently, vessel representatives needed to call and speak to a staff member to get a confirmation number for the declaration. If they couldn’t reach a staff member, they could leave a message, but might miss the callback. The process of going back and forth due to a missed phone call could make declaring a trip complex and time consuming on both ends.
But now, NOAA Fisheries has launched a new app for vessel owners to make the trip declaration process easier, more accurate, and more efficient for both fishers and NOAA Fisheries enforcement.
App Streamlines Declaration Process
“The app was designed to accommodate enforcement and to complement at-sea presence,” says Brian Corrigan, Investigative Support Program Manager in NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement West Coast Division. “We’re trying to protect the resources, keep up with regulations, and streamline to ensure accurate reporting.”
The new system enables fishers to declare using an app compatible with smartphones, tablets, and computers. The app can be used on any device and doesn’t require the user to download software from an app store. Additionally, features can be added or adjusted on the back end without requiring the user to install updates. The app has the added advantage of allowing the user to access their declaration history, simplifying the process of making subsequent declarations.
While the app does not replace the option for fishers to make a phone or email declaration, the developers anticipated it would be popular with users. Its time-saving and workload-reducing functionality eliminates the need for follow-up between vessel representatives and NOAA Fisheries staff. “It’s just good business to do this,” says Craig D'Angelo, Northwest Fisheries Science Center at-sea data team lead and one of the app’s developers.
The app’s features include the ability to auto-populate common fields and declare multiple gear types at once, along with self-correction tools. With 3,000–4,000 trips being declared each year, investigative support technicians spend hours reading off of sheets, listening to hundreds of voicemails, and manually inputting data. This app will save time and make this process more efficient.
“We’ve been thinking hard about architecture and users. And usually, if you build something good, and it’s something that people need, people tend to adopt it,” says D’Angelo.
Positive Reception from the Fishing Community
Christy Pearsall, an Investigative Support Technician in NOAA Fisheries Office of Law Enforcement West Coast Division, says people have been adopting the new technology enthusiastically. The team has about 30 vessels using the app with more expected to join soon.
“We wanted to do a rollout slowly so that we could address any issues that might be coming up,” Pearsall said. “Users have made more than 300 declarations through the app as of early November, and everyone who is using it is loving it. Every participant so far has said the usability is simple—and we’ve had users of all skills, ages, and experience.”
Walter Deyerle, a captain and a participant in the rollout program, agreed that the app has significantly improved his reporting process. “It’s super straightforward and user friendly,” he said. Deyerle has three boats and says that data could easily get confusing. But with the app, he can keep track and change any information that needs to be updated at any time.
“I think everyone likes the app,” he added. “I know my dad and uncle are able to use it—they actually prefer it—and they’re in their late 60s.”
The team behind the app’s development foresee the app as part of a suite of tools to streamline data collection and business processes for West Coast fisheries—and beyond. In the meantime, the developers say the code is available for others to use and the application is scalable. Other NOAA offices, including the Southeast Regional Office and Highly Migratory Species Management Division, have already expressed interest in adopting the technology.
As Corrigan noted, “Anything we can do to help people comply is what the goal is.”
Development of the declarations app was supported by NOAA Fisheries’ Fisheries Information System program. This state-regional-federal partnership supports sound, science-based fisheries management. It fosters collaboration and—with support from the Electronic Technologies and National Catch Share programs—funds innovative projects like this one.
“The Fisheries Information System has been a tremendous partner to our team,” said D’Angelo. “Aside from providing funding to get projects like these off the ground, the program’s community of experts has been there to help us navigate the technological challenges we encountered along the way to getting the app launched."
