AKRO/SF: Electronic Logbooks

Logbooks are the industry reports submitted by vessels documenting fishing activity. In particular, these reports provide haul specific information, gear, fishing depth specifics, and vessel estimates of catch. Logbooks may be completed either on paper or in an electronic format. Paper logbooks are required to be completed and submitted for federally permitted vessels over 60 feet in length that are fishing for groundfish and for vessels that are 25 feet and over in length fishing for IFQ halibut. The submission of electronic logbooks is required for trawl catcher/processors participating in the American Fisheries Act (AFA) and Community Development Quota (CDQ) pollock fisheries in the BSAI, trawl catcher/processors participating in the Central GOA rockfish program, and longline catcher/processors fishing for Pacific cod if required to weigh the Pacific cod on a NMFS-approved scale. Some other catcher processors and catcher vessels voluntarily submit an electronic logbook instead of a paper one.

Electronic logbooks provide data on fishing activity that is used for agency activities such as stock assessment, providing information to onboard observers, and for use by NMFS enforcement. Electronic logbooks increase the speed and accuracy of data transmission to NMFS.

The use of electronic logbooks has expanded in recent years.

Access to sensitive data shall only be granted to an individual that meets certain criteria. Access can only be granted to an individual if a signed and effective Confidentiality Agreement, Data Access Sharing Agreement, Memorandum of Understanding, Standard Statement of Nondisclosure, or similar agreement is in place. These signed agreements shall indicate that individuals have reviewed and understand the provisions in the manual governing the legal use of sensitive data. The signed agreements are maintained by the Alaska Regional Records office. The name of each individual that has signed a statement of nondisclosure for using sensitive data will be added to the Alaska Region list of authorized confidential data users.

Electronic logbook data are sensitive under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act (2007) and can only be shared with authorized persons or in summary format for public dissemination.

Electronic logbooks completed through the eLandings system have real time validation of data elements. Logbook data generated through eLandings, seaLandings, or another NMFS-approved electronic logbook, and transmitted to NMFS are validated upon receipt. A return receipt is sent indicating if any errors exist in the transmitted data. Corrections must be made and the electronic logbook resubmitted before the electronic logbook data is accepted.

The Alaska Region is still working out these details.

IT Security and Contingency Plan for the system establishes procedures and applies to the functions, operations, and resources necessary to recover and restore data as hosted in the Alaska Region in Juneau, Alaska, following a disruption.

Electronic logbooks can be submitted to NMFS in two ways, either as an attachment to an email or through the use of eLandings or seaLandings and transmitted to the Interacency Electronic Reporting System (IERS) repository database. The email attachments are saved and the files are loaded into NMFS AKRO Oracle tables. Electronic logbooks transmitted by eLandings or seaLandings are extracted from the IERS repository database and loaded into NMFS AKRO Oracle tables.