Vessel Trip Reporting in the Greater Atlantic Region

Operators of most GARFO-permitted commercial, for-hire, and private recreational tilefish vessels must submit a vessel trip report (VTR) for each fishing trip.

• VTRs are important because they provide data that informs fishery science and management decisions.

• See the Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting (eVTR) Instructions to learn how to complete an electronic VTR (eVTR) for your fishing gear.

Vessels that only possess an American Lobster and no other GARFO-issued permit are exempt from VTR reporting requirements. See Vessel Trip Reporting Requirement by Permit Type table below for trip report details for each permit.

For general questions about vessel trip reporting, call (978) 281-9246 or email us.

Notice to Fishing Vessel Owners and Operators

Most federally permitted commercial fisheries and New England For-Hire fisheries are required to submit all of their vessel trip reports electronically, beginning November 10, 2021. This action does not apply to lobster-only permitted vessels, which currently have no mandatory reporting requirement. However, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has recommended and we are considering federal trip reporting requirements for Federal lobster-only vessels. 

For more information, see the rule summary. Educational and outreach materials are available on our websites and shared through our social media outlets.

Vessel Trip Reporting Requirement by Permit

If you have any of the permits listed below, you have vessel trip reporting requirements and must submit trip reports for all trips taken, regardless of targeted species or waters fished. Some of the permits have eVTR requirements, or soon will.

How To Report Electronically

If you are the operator of a federally permitted commercial or for-hire vessel or the operator of a federally-permitted private recreational tilefish vessel, you are required to submit an electronic Vessel Trip Report (eVTR). Vessels that only possess an American Lobster and no other GARFO-issued permit are exempt from VTR reporting requirements. Electronic reporting makes the collection of data more efficient, convenient, and timely for the fishing industry, fishery managers, and other data users.

• To view all of the eVTR software application options available to you, please click the eVTR Software Options link.
• To view eVTR software development information, please use the eVTR Software Development Reference Information link.
• For more answers about electronic reporting, please use the following links:

Do I Need to Use Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting?  

Frequent Questions: eVTR 

• To view the instructions for using the Fish Online eVTR Web App and the Fish Online eVTR App for iOS, please use the following links:

Commercial eVTR Using Fish Online eVTR App for iOS 

Commercial eVTR Using Fish Online eVTR Web App 

For-hire eVTR Using Fish Online eVTR App for iOS 

For-hire eVTR Using Fish Online eVTR Web App 

Private Recreational eVTR Using Fish Online eVTR App for iOS 

Private Recreational eVTR Using Fish Online eVTR Web App

• For general questions about vessel trip reporting, call (978) 281-9246 or email us.

More Questions?

• Lindsey Bergmann, Analysis and Program Support, (978) 282-8418
• Jim St.Cyr, Analysis and Program Support, (978) 281-9369
• GARFO Port Agents
   

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) System

Starting April 1, 2021 IVR users must report using our Fish Online eVTR App for iOS or Fish Online Web App. To access these reporting systems, you must have a Fish Online account. See the pages below for more information.

• Interactive Voice Response System
• Electronic Reporting Instructions for IVR Fishermen