Electronic Reporting Instructions for IVR Fishermen

To declare a monkfish or groundfish trip, or to report for a Research Set-Aside project use the Fish Online iOS app or the Fish Online Web app, which is available on our Fish Online website and can be used on different devices.

If you need to create an account through Fish Online, visit How to Create an Account in Fish Online and Link to a Vessel. You can access our Fish Online website using only the Chrome, Firefox, or Safari web browsers on your tablet, desktop, or laptop computer. You cannot use Internet Explorer to access Fish Online.

You can go to our Vessel Trip Reporting web page for more information about IVR and electronic reporting. There you will find information about making IVR reports from an iPhone or iPad. These are additional options to the web-based instructions below.

Submitting an IVR Report From a Smartphone, Tablet, Desktop or Laptop Computer

You can fill out and submit an IVR report using the Fish Online Web App, which works through your Internet browser on any device. 

1. In the Fish Online Login Page, enter your login credentials and click Log In. 
2. After you log in, select the vessel for which you are completing a trip report. 
3. Once you are on  your Vessel Profile page, click VTR/IVR Reporting from the menu on the left side of the screen.
4. On the next screen, click VTR/IVR Reporting; this brings you to the Reporting home page.
5. If this is your first time using the app, you will see Install under the NOAA Fish Online banner at the top of the screen. You can download this as an app onto your computer or to any mobile device (iOS or Android.)

How to Submit a Days at Sea Open Hail

1. At the Home screen, you can either click on the + at the top right of the screen or on the three horizontal lines at the top left, then select New Trip from the options.
2. Enter the date and time sailed and then enter the Vessel Permit Number. Click on Additional Reports.
3. Select DAS Trips, enter your Departure Port, and then click Continue.
4. Select the fishery you are participating in and then answer the management area question. Click Continue.
5. Select gear type and then click Continue.
6. Answer the days at sea question, select a broadstock area, and click Continue.
7. Review your report for accuracy and then click Confirm and then Submit.

How to Submit a Days at Sea Close Hail

1. At the Home screen, you can either click on the + at the top right of the screen or on the three horizontal lines at the top left and then select New Trip from the options.
2. Enter the date and time sailed and then enter the Vessel Permit Number. Click on Additional Reports.
3. Under Open Trips, select the DAS trip by clicking on that trip.
4. Enter the arrival port and click Continue.
5. Enter the catch composition from the selections in the drop box and then answer the management question below. Click Continue.
6. Enter the catch weight of the IVR species and click Submit.
7. Review the information for accuracy and click Confirm and then Submit.

How to Submit an RSA Trip Open Hail

1. At the Home screen, you can either click on the + at the top right of the screen or on the three horizontal lines at the top left and then select New Trip from the options.
2. Enter the date and time sailed and then enter the Vessel Permit Number. Click on Additional Reports and you will be prompted to enter your username and PIN number.
3. When you click on the RSA  project code, a Trip ID number will be created. Click Continue.
4. Select the departure port and click Continue.
5. Select the gear type and click Continue.
6. Enter the estimated trip end date/time and click Continue.
7. Review the information for accuracy and click Confirm and then Submit.

How to Submit an RSA Close Hail

1. At the Home screen, you can either click on the + at the top right of the screen or on the three horizontal lines at the top left and then select New Trip from the options.
2. Enter the date and time sailed and then enter the Vessel Permit Number. Click on Additional Reports and you will be prompted to enter your username and PIN number.
3. Under Open Trips, select the RSA trip by clicking on that trip.
4. If you are using the Fish Online Web App to Submit your VTR, click Continue. If you are using a different electronic reporting app, erase the number in the VTR number field and enter the new VTR number.
5. Enter the arrival port and answer the monkfish question. Click Continue.
6. Enter the estimated trip end date and time, and click Continue.
7. Click on Add Catch, enter your catch or use the drop down arrow to select the species you caught. Enter how much you kept and click Save. If you need to add another species select Add Catch or click Continue.
8. Review the information for accuracy and click Confirm and then Submit.

How to Submit an EFP Open Hail

1. At the Home screen, you can either click on the + at the top right of the screen or on the three horizontal lines at the top left and then select New Trip from the options.
2. Enter the date and time sailed and then enter the Vessel Permit Number. Click on Additional Reports and you will be prompted to enter your username and PIN number.
3. When you click on the EFP project code, a Trip ID number will be created. Click Continue.
4. Review the information for accuracy and click Confirm and then Submit.

How to Submit an EFP Close Hail

1. At the Home screen, you can either click on the + at the top right of the screen or on the three horizontal lines at the top left and then select New Trip from the options.
2. Enter the date and time sailed and then enter the Vessel Permit Number. Click on Additional Reports and you will be prompted to enter your username and PIN number.
3. Under Open Trips, select the EFP trip by clicking on that trip.
4. If you are using the Fish Online Web App to submit your VTR, click Continue. If you are using a different electronic reporting app, erase the number in the VTR number field and enter the new VTR number.
5. Enter the arrival port and click Continue.
6. Click on Add Catch, enter your catch or use the drop down arrow to select the species you caught. Enter how much you kept and click Save. If you need to add another species select Add Catch or click Continue.
7. Review the information for accuracy and click Confirm and then Submit.

Submitting an IVR Report Using the Fish Online eVTR App for iOS

You can fill out and submit an IVR report using our Fish Online eVTR app for iOS.

Start the IVR Report

1. Log onto the app with your Fish Online username and password.
2. On the Home screen, tap the + icon on the bottom of the screen.
3. Tap Additional Report Types.
4. To begin a new trip report, enter the requested information; use the wheels to select the date and time sailed.
5. Enter the vessel name. (The hull number and permit number will fill in automatically.)
6. Tap Next in the bottom right corner to go to the Select Trip Record screen.

Provide the Trip Record Type

On the Select Trip Record Type screen, use one of the following three sets of instructions that matches your IVR trip type (Days at Sea Open Hail, EFP, or RSA Open Hail). The options will vary depending on your vessel permit.

Trip Record Type: Days at Sea Open Hail

To submit a DAS Open Hail trip:

1.  Tap Submit DAS Open Hail.
2. Enter your offloading port and tap Next.
3. On the Fishery screen select species, gear type and answer the Management Area Questions. Tap Done, then tap Next.
4. Enter the broadstock area.
5. Tap Done, and then tap Next.
6. Review your information and tap Submit.
7. You will get a message about whether your report was accepted. If it was successful, you can create a new eVTR report if needed.
8. The open Days at Sea Report will be saved on your device.

Trip Record Type: EFP

To submit an EFP report:

1. Select the permit you are using and the New Trip Review screen will open.
2. Tap Submit at the bottom of the page.
3. Once you tap Submit, you can either start a new eVTR or select Not Now.  Your start of the EFP trip will be saved on your device.

Trip Record Type: RSA Open Hail

To submit an RSA Open Hail:

1. Tap on the RSA project permit.
2. Enter your estimated date and time of landing and offloading port and tap Next.
3. Tap add catch item and select the species, gear type, and catch quantity  questions, Tap Next.
4. Review the information and tap Submit.
5. You will get a message about whether your report was accepted. If it was successful, you can create a new eVTR report if needed.
6. The open report will be saved to the Home screen.

Finish and Submit the IVR Report

To complete your IVR report, choose the open DAS, RSA, or EFP trip on the Home screen, then use the one of the following three sets of instructions that matches your choice.

Close the Trip: DAS Open Hail

To close a DAS trip, select your open trip.

1. Tap the Sign icon at the bottom right of the screen.
2. Select offloading port.
3. Select catch composition, catch weight, and if you are declaring a monkfish overage. Tap Next.
4. Review the information for accuracy and tap Submit.
5. You will get a message about whether your report was accepted.

Close the Trip: EFP

To close an EFP Trip, select your open trip.

1. Tap the Sign icon in the bottom right.
2. Enter the date, time land, and offloading port. Tap Next.
3. Enter catch item(s) (kept and discarded) and tap Next.
4. Enter whether you are declaring a monkfish overage.
5. If you have already started the eVTR, the VTR number will automatically populate.
6. Tap Next at the bottom of the screen.
7. Review your trip information for accuracy and tap Submit in the bottom right hand corner.
8. You will get a message about whether your report was accepted.

Close the Trip: RSA Open Hail

To close an RSA trip, select your open trip.

1. Review the information on the submitted trip haul and if correct, tap the Sign icon in the bottom right corner.
2. If the information is correct on the offloading port, tap Next in the bottom right corner.
3. To enter your catch, tap Add Catch at the bottom of your screen.
4. Fill in your catch information and tap Done at the bottom of your screen.
5. If you caught more than one species, add additional catch. Tap Next in the bottom right hand corner after you entered all of your catch.
6. Answer the question about monkfish trip limits, and then tap Next.
7. If you have already started the eVTR, the VTR number will automatically populate.
8. Tap Next at the bottom of the screen.
9. Review your trip information for accuracy and tap Submit in the bottom right hand corner. You will get a message about whether your report was accepted.

More Information

• Vessel Trip Reporting in the Greater Atlantic Region
• Interactive Voice Response System
• Assistance with IVR and VMS reporting requirements, call (978) 281-9315
• Assistance with using a reporting application, email nmfs.gar.reporting@noaa.gov or call (978) 281-9188