Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program

Contact Information

• Customer Support Toll Free: 1-833-707-1632
• Customer Support Email:  ser.electronicreporting@noaa.gov

Background

The Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program implements electronic reporting of for-hire vessel catch data for over 3,000 vessels in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic.  The purpose of this program is to provide more accurate and reliable fisheries information about for-hire catch, effort, and discards. Fishermen will directly improve data collection that is critical to population assessments and better fisheries management. Electronic reporting can also provide more timely, accurate, and reliable information for species with low catches, low annual catch limits, or rarely encountered species. 

The links below provide information on the program and how to remain in compliance with the requirements.  We highly recommend you review the links below and reach out to us directly with questions.

• Additional Information
  • Summary Report on the Quality Management Workshop for the For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Requirements in the Southeast Region
  • Southeast Region For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Development Plan 2019
• If you missed the public webinars for Gulf and South Atlantic participants, you can request a recording of the webinar from the appropriate Council:
  • Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council (emily.muehlstein@gulfcouncil.org)
  • South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (cameron.rhodes@safmc.net).

Frequently Asked Questions

• General Program Requirements
• General Reporting Requirements
• Electronic Logbook Questions
• Gulf of Mexico Trip Declaration Questions
• Gulf of Mexico VMS Requirement Questions
• Gulf of Mexico Intercept Validation Survey Questions
• Vessels with Permits Across NOAA Fisheries Regions or With the State of South Carolina

• Technical Questions Regarding the Approved Reporting Software 

News and Announcements

• NOAA Fisheries Update: Court of Appeals Decision on the Gulf of Mexico Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program Lawsuit
• The Power Down Exemption form for the VMS requirement is now available under Important Forms in the Information for Gulf of Mexico Permit Holders section.
• A new interactive map for finding approved landing locations has been added to the Information for Gulf of Mexico Permit Holders section.
• The toolkits have been updated and revised to reflect the most current guidance on the SEFHIER program. Updated toolkits are now accessible by clicking the Informational Toolkits link, under the Guides and Tools section.
• Additional resources (FAQs, videos, etc) provided by VMS vendors have also been added to the tables on the VMS Type Approved Units page.

Guides and Tools

If you are just getting started, the informational videos and toolkits are a great way to get introduced to the program and requirements.  Fishery Bulletins are a great way to stay up to date with the SEFHIER program, sign up at the link below to have them emailed to you.  Instructional videos for both software reporting applications are also available, as well as links to the applications' support pages.

• Informational Videos
  • Video 1:  Introduction to the Southeast For Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program Requirements
  • Video 2:  Getting Started with Electronic Reporting
  • Video 3:  Understanding the Position Reporting Requirements (for Gulf permitted vessels)

• Informational Toolkits: explain the requirements and details for the program, and answer some frequently asked questions
• Compliance Guides: a compact, travel friendly guide for staying in compliance with the SEFHIER program
• Fishery Bulletins
• Multiple Permits Information
• eTrips support page: User Instructions
• VESL support page: Bluefin Data Help Center

Information for Gulf of Mexico Permit Holders

(If you have both South Atlantic and Gulf permits, this section provides information on what is required)

• Gulf of Mexico Proposed and Final Rule, Fishery Bulletins, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), and Newsletters
• Informational Toolkit
• Multiple Permits Information
• Approved Software
• VMS Type Approved Units
• Approved Landing Locations 
  • Approved Landing Locations for the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting Program (Interactive Map)
• VMS Reimbursement Program

Important Forms

• Landing Location Request Form
• Power Down Exemption form

Gulf of Mexico Validation Survey

• Better Data, Better Fishing: You and your clients make it possible

Information for South Atlantic Permit Holders

• South Atlantic Proposed and Final Rule, and Fishery Bulletins
• Informational Toolkit
• Multiple Permits Information
• Approved Software 

Information for Vendors

This page provides documents about the requirements and specifications to be an approved software or hardware vendor for the Southeast For-Hire Electronic Reporting programs.