NOAA Eyes Comments on High-Tech App for Fishery Data Tracking
Published Date: 3/18/2025
Notice
Summary
NOAA is asking commercial fishers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic to keep using a special app to track detailed fishing data. This helps scientists study fish populations better and supports smart fishing rules. There are no changes to the current process, and comments are open until May 19, 2025.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Commercial fishers asked to keep using FLDRS
Commercial fishers in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic are asked to voluntarily keep using the Fisheries Logbook Data Reporting Software (FLDRS) to record high-resolution trip data. The collection estimates 15 respondents, about 50 minutes per day for vessels collecting trip-level data, total annual burden hours of 1,752, and an estimated $800 equipment cost.
Data can produce species density forecasts
NOAA will combine high-resolution catch data with temperature/depth data to produce oceanographic and species density forecasts. These species-specific density forecasts can be used as a tool while fishing to help fishers maximize efficiency and avoid limited stocks.
Vessel owners can view and manage their data
Data collected via FLDRS are encrypted and can be viewed, uploaded, downloaded, and edited by the vessel owner or approved representatives through the Vessel Electronic Reporting Web Portal (VERS). Trip files may be transmitted via Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) or manually uploaded to NEFSC.
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