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 VTR Instructions to learn how to complete a VTR for your fishing gear.

Vessels that only possess an American Lobster and no other GARFO-issued permit with reporting requirements are exempt from VTR reporting requirements. See Vessel Trip Reporting Requirement by Permit 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

We recently published a final rule implementing electronic VTR requirements for most federally permitted commercial fisheries and New England For-Hire Vessels. This rule will require federally-permitted vessels with reporting requirements 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. 

Vessel owners and operators are encouraged to transition to electronic reporting as soon as possible. For more information, see the rule summary. As we develop new educational and outreach material, we will update our websites and share the new information through our social media outlets.

Sign-up for Instructional Webinars for Fish Online Reporting Apps (July - November 2021)

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

Electronic Reporting

If you are the operator of a federally permitted for-hire vessel with a permit for a species managed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, or the operator of a federally-permitted private recreational tilefish vessel, you are required to submit an electronic Vessel Trip Report (eVTR). Voluntarily reporting electronically is available to all vessel operators. 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 follow the eVTR Software Options link.

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

Paper Reporting

Operators of vessels not required to submit eVTRs may still report using paper vessel trip reports until November 10, 2021.  If you need additional paper forms, call (978) 281-9246 or log into Fish Online to request new logbooks.

Questions?

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

Electronic Vessel Trip Reporting

• eVTR Software Options
• eVTR Software Development Reference Information
• Do I need to use eVTR?
• Frequent Questions: eVTR
   

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