Trip-Level Reporting for Fixed Gear Fishermen

Have questions about reporting fixed gear trips? Learn about fixed gear fields and find resources.

DMF updated trip-level reporting requirements for all fixed gear fishermen. This is in response to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Addendum XXVI to Amendment 3 of the Lobster Fishery Management Plan.

Detailed Definitions

Massachusetts state reporting fixed gear fishermen must report the fields defined below. Fixed gear includes all pot gear types and gillnets. These are additions to traditional fields. This is true for all reporting methods. Note that field names differ in SAFIS eTRIPS from the paper form; the list below lists the eTRIPS field name with the paper report field name in parentheses.  Note that field definitions are available in eTRIPS online by selecting the question mark next to the field.

• Gear Sets (Strings Hauled): The number of trawls or strings hauled in a statistical area.  
• Gears Fishing (Gear in Area): The number of individual traps or nets in the specified statistical area at the start of the day.  
• Number of Buoy Lines (Buoylines in Area): The number of buoy lines in the specified statistical area at the start of the day.  
• Gear Size (Total Gear): The total number of traps or nets in the water by gear type at the start of the day, regardless of statistical area.  
• Total Buoy Lines in Water (Total Buoy Lines): Total number of buoy lines in the water by gear type at the start of the day, regardless of statistical area.  

Reporting Platforms

Data reporting will look different on each reporting platform. See help links below for each platform:

• Monthly Trip-Level Report Form
• Monthly Trip-Level Report Form (Excel Spreadsheet)
• Instructions and example of how to fill out the new paper report form.

Please note that trips cannot be submitted on old paper forms.

Maps for Reporting

Maps of reporting areas can be found at the links below:

• Statistical reporting area map
• Printable static maps of ten-minute squares with Loran overlay
• Web map of ten-minute squares
• Lobster management areas map

More Information

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

• If we miss your call please leave a message and we will respond within one business day.