Electronic Tracking of Federal Lobster Vessels

All Massachusetts federal lobster trap permit holders for areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and OC are required to install an Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) approved vessel tracking device onboard their vessel in accordance with Addendum XXIX to Amendment 3 to the American Lobster Fishery Management Plan. Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries (DMF) administers this requirement for vessels in Massachusetts.

 If you have not received information on the electronic tracking program and are required to install an electronic tracking device on your vessel, please reach out to [e-mail] or 978-491-6265 to request this information. For more information on the subsidy application, please visit Assistance for Electronic Tracking Devices - Federal Lobster Vessels. 

Permit Holders Requirements

• Devices must remain attached to your federally permitted vessel, powered, and transmitting data while the vessel is in the water. Trackers are required regardless of trip type, location fished, or target species.
• If a device malfunctions or the vessel is out of the water, permit holders must alert DMF (see device failure protocol below).
• Vessels with federal Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) are not exempt from tracking device requirements.  If your vessel has a federal VMS and a federal lobster vessel tracking requirement you still must install an approved tracking device.
• Permit holders who do not intend to fish trap gear with their federally permitted vessel may opt out of the vessel tracking program. To opt out of the program, you must complete a Vessel Tracking Affidavit.
• Complete tracker requirements are in Section 3.1 of the document found here:  Addendum XXIX
• Massachusetts state regulations detailing tracking requirements are found in 322 7.11 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations (CMR) at this link: 322 CMR 7.11

Administration of Vessel Trackers

• DMF administers the tracking program to federal fishery permit holders with principal ports in Massachusetts and will notify you by US mail if your vessel requires a tracking device.
• DMF validates tracking data for trips with electronic tracking requirements landing in Massachusetts. DMF may contact you with questions regarding your vessel tracker.
• An installation affidavit will be mailed to the address on your federal fishery permit. Mail the completed affidavit to 30 Emerson Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930 or email to [e-mail]. DMF will then verify your device transmits correctly and provide a receipt.
• DMF confirms compliance with vessel tracking requirements. DMF may contact you if data has not been received from your device. You must inform DMF if your tracker breaks or if the tracker is powered down.

Vessel Tracking Devices

• Tracking devices collect vessel positions once per minute. The device may collect positions once per day if vessel is in its berth.
• Devices must be installed to device vendor specifications and cannot be tampered with.

Approved Vessel Tracking Devices Information

Device Vendor	Approved Device	Website	Power Supply	Installation Location	Support Phone Number	Support Email Address
Viatrax	Boat Command	Boat Command Vessel Monitoring System	12-24 V DC	Interior near window	[phone]	[e-mail]
Archipelago	FishVue Lime	FishVue Lime Website	12-24 V DC	Interior with sky view	[phone]	[e-mail]
Succorfish	SC2	Succorfish Contact Page	Consult vendor	Sky view	[phone]	[e-mail]

Device Failure Protocol

• If your tracking device breaks, please contact MADMF at 978-491-6265 or email [e-mail]. Contact your device vendor or their representative to repair or replace trackers in the event of device failure.  
• DMF staff may also alert you of problems with your tracking device. If so, contact your device vendor or their representative to repair or replace trackers. 
• Permit holders must repair or replace devices within 14 days of device failure. Within these 14 days, permit holders may continue to fish. MADMF may provide a letter of authorization to fish without a device after the 14-day period in limited circumstances. 

More Information

If you need further information, please call our office during business hours at [phone] or email us anytime at [e-mail]. 

Date published:	March 8, 2023