Why is Massachusetts going to trip level reporting in the lobster fishery? Massachusetts is going to trip level reporting for 10% of lobster permit holders because it is required by Section 4.1 in Addendum X to Amendment 3 to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) American Lobster Fishery Management Plan. For a link to Addendum X see: http://www.asmfc.org/speciesDocuments/lobster/fmps/addendumX.pdf
Why trip level reporting?
All of the Atlantic States and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) determined several years ago that commercial fisheries data must be in a standardized format to combine it from multiple states to manage a stock that spans more than one jurisdiction. Eleven years ago, the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) was formed by all Atlantic States and NMFS to house all fisheries data in an effort to better manage marine resources along the Atlantic Coast. Trip level reporting was chosen as the standard format for commercial catch and effort data. This format has been employed by NMFS through their vessel trip reporting (VTR) program for many years, and it is this format that the ASMFC American Lobster Board feels is necessary to properly manage the Atlantic lobster stock.
How was the selection process done?
Eleven percent of active Massachusetts lobstermen, who do not currently report their landings through the Federal VTR program, were randomly selected based on LMA fished and amount of landings in 2006. The random selection was done based on these two criteria in order to get a representative sample of all the lobster harvesters in MA. Eleven percent were selected to account for any cases where a permit is not fished in 2008.
Am I going to have to do this from now on?
No decisions have been made beyond 2008 regarding who will have to participate in this program.
Why are some permit holders exempt from this MA trip level reporting program?
Lobster permit holders who report all of their landings through the Federal VTR program are exempt from this trip level reporting program. All others not selected for trip level reporting will continue to file an annual catch report at the end of the year.
Are other states required to do this?
Yes. Addendum X to Amendment 3 to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission American Lobster Fishery Management Plan applies to all states in the plan. In fact most other Atlantic States are already requiring trip level data from all of their fishermen.
What information am I going to have to report?
Information you will be required to report for a trip includes, trip date, trip start time, LMA, area fished, species, pounds landed, disposition (food or bait), gear, total gear in water, gear hauled during trip, soak time, port, dealer sold to, and date sold. All gear types employed and species landed under the selected permit must be reported.
Will I have to fill out a separate form for each trip?
No. Multiple trips, for the same month, can be entered on one form, using separate lines.
Do I have to report all species I land throughout the year through this reporting program?
Yes. All species landed and gear types employed under the selected permit must be reported at the trip level.
I fish gillnets for a portion of the year, under the permit that was selected for this trip level reporting program. Do I have to report my gillnet catch by trip in addition to my lobster catch?
Yes. All species landed and gear types employed under the selected permit must be reported at the trip level.
Will I be exempt from filling out end-of-the-year catch reports?
Yes. You will most likely only have to fill out an additional form that verifies your catch and asks some economic questions (i.e. boat value, # of crew, fuel used etc.).
Do I have to report even if I don’t fish?
Yes. Negative reports must be submitted on a monthly basis.
When will these reports be due?
Completed logbook forms for one month’s trips will be due by the 10th of the following month. For example, January’s logbook will be due by February 10th.
How do I submit these reports?
Paper reports may be submitted by mail to the MADMF Statistics Project, 30 Emerson Avenue, Gloucester, MA, 01930 or by fax to (800-532-3474).
Can I enter these reports online?
An online application is being developed so those who choose to can enter their trips online. If you are interested in this option please call 978-282-0308 ext. 115.
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