Quota Monitoring Data

The FIN Data Collection Work Group met to address this issue. The group was charged with developing recommendations regarding the various methods for quota monitoring for both commercial and recreational fisheries. In the Southeast Region, letters are sent to the major dealers for the various species that are quota-monitored, selecting them to report. These dealers are required to provide landings and other data for various time periods. In the Northeast Region, dealers report via an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system. Dealers are given dealer codes and PINs to access the system and are required to report on a weekly basis. Dealers report all landings (including no landings) in pounds by species. They also provide area fished (by zones). The information is directly inputted into the computer and the system produces confirmation numbers to let the dealers know that their data have been entered.

Based on the recommendations for the Work Group, The FIN stated that quota monitoring for the commercial fisheries would ideally be accomplished through electronic trip tickets. This would allow for timely reporting of the data and allow for effective quota monitoring. Since electronic trip tickets are not currently feasible, it was adopted by FIN that an IVR/phone reporting system, similar to the one used in the Northeast, be used for quota monitoring of the commercial fisheries.

The IVR system would allow for dealers (via codes and PINs) to provide landings data by species and area fished on an established reporting period. The reporting period would depend on the species. It was noted that electronic trip tickets could not be used for the for-hire sector but an IVR/phone reporting system could be utilized to capture landings in the for-hire fishery. Regarding quota monitoring for the recreational fisheries, it was adopted that quota monitoring should not be used as a management tool for recreational fisheries.

However, since it is already being used, it was adopted by FIN that in order to land quota-monitored species, recreational fishermen would be required to purchase special stamps. In addition to these stamps, a form would be distributed and fishermen would be required to report landings for that particular species. The reporting would be mandatory and fishermen would use an IVR/phone reporting system to provide the data.

P. O. Box 726

Ocean Springs, MS 39566-0726

Phone 228-875-5912 , Fax 228-875-6604