Online Reporting Avail Oct. 17

[admin]

[quack quack]

That is great!!

[Another Grand]

Indeed.

Thank you!

Now lets see what impact it has......

[Beerman]

[The BEAST]

Although the call-in method was satisfactory for me I look forward to the on-line method. Maybe having 2 methods to report will eliminate the excuses.

[RiskTaker]

Well Blow me down, I can hardly believe that we have finally evolved to an on-line reporting solution developed by N.M.F.S., although the call-in then in-person telecon reporting mechanism may be more appropriate for some people, and thus should remain active and a viable input mechanism.

Now what I would really like to see is more punctual feedback of public reporting data on a periodical basis, like monthly, or at the same beat rate that the buoy fishers, Pll, etc. gets to become public record, including all of the raw data, less any privacy related information.

Thanks for the update.

Just as a reminder, as members of The Swordfishing Club, you also have the option to report your catches on-line now. This system has been in effect for over 4 years now and the pertinent fields of data get reported to NMFS every 6 Months. Maybe, the pace may needs to be picked up here to a quarterly or monthly basis should NMFS decide to release their data on a more punctual basis. Because there are some interesting data points that are posted voluntarily, this is the primary reason this reporting mechanism remains a fishing club restricted access database. But as a member, you can participate here and partake with all of the club functions. Plus you will also be alerted to important public input sessions. Not to say that this does not happen on-line already, but people need a real people venue besides the internet alone.

[Reel Bonus]

Chalk one up for us rec guys Dont know why it took so long

[Uncle Buck]

Cool. It's about time!

[Disco Lady]

[edk]

Finally. Are they going to have the option of reporting releases as was discussed at the meeting earlier this year at the IGFA?

Ed

[Ron.38 Special]

Quickly, here is why it took so long.

First you must come up with the idea from A/P members, fishermen, etc.
We all did that early in the reporting days.

Then, someone has to decide to do it, and how to do it. Once they figure out that, they have to ask that money be put in the next year budget for it.

Once you make an estimate, it has to get in the budget for the next fiscal year.

Then, in the fiscal year that you have the money available, you have to go thru purchasing to get a consultant, subcontractor, etc to actually bid the work, then get a contract awarded. Finally they start the work, you get the product, and you go thru some kind of review or testing of the product.

All that can easily take 2 to 3 years.

Greg Faircloth at NMFS heard us loud and clear when we asked for this and he spearheaded the work to get it approved, budgeted, and awarded.

NMFS took the rec seriously on this item and did it faster than most things happend in the federal government.

Thanks Greg and NMFS!

[Nick C]

[JahMussa]

Greg has all the answers. A great resource for sure! He has taken plenty of time to explain the rules as they were intended.

-Tek

[Flyin By]

Sweet!!!!!!!!!

[admin]

Here's the latest release:

Internet Reporting for Swordfish and Billfish Landings Will Improve Management

To improve the management of swordfish and other billfish, NOAA Fisheries Service will launch a new website on Oct. 17 where anglers can report landings of Atlantic swordfish, sailfish, blue marlin and white marlin.

More timely and more complete data on recreational landings will help NOAA Fisheries better manage these Atlantic highly migratory species and will assist in the compliance with international obligations. The website will not be for fish caught as part of a tournament.

“We’re asking for help from anglers to improve our information on swordfish and billfish landings,” said William T. Hogarth, director of NOAA Fisheries Service. “This new web site will make it easier for recreational fishermen to report their catches as is required. In turn, this improved data will help the U.S. know exactly what our recreational fishermen are catching so that the U.S. has the strongest hand possible when we negotiate quotas internationally. This is also important information when the U.S. sets quotas here to conserve and manage these fish for today’s fishermen and future generations.”

Starting Oct. 17, owners of vessels with Highly Migratory Species permits, or their designees, should report all recreational non-tournament swordfish and billfish landings using the newly designed web-based reporting system at NMFS Permit Shop. To log-in and report a swordfish or billfish landing, vessel owners will need to provide the following: HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat category permit number; trip dates; catch; and fishing gear and technique.

After a landing report has been successfully completed on-line, vessel owners will receive a confirmation number for each individual fish reported landed. There is an option to print the confirmation numbers or have them sent electronically to a personal email account. A swordfish or billfish landing report is not considered complete unless the vessel owner, or the owner’s designee, has received a confirmation number.

The new web-based reporting system will be the primary reporting portal for recreational swordfish and billfish landings; however, NOAA Fisheries will maintain and monitor the current toll-free reporting line to assist those vessel owners who do not have access to the internet.

Owners of private vessels that fish recreationally for Atlantic HMS, or on which Atlantic HMS are retained or possessed, are required to have an Atlantic HMS Angling category permit. Owners of for-hire vessels used to take anglers fishing for a fee are required to have the HMS Charter/Headboat category permit. For more information on the HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat category permit, log on to NMFS Permit Shop or call the HMS Management Division’s St.
Petersburg office at 727-824-5399. NOAA Fisheries also encourages all who fish for HMS to use circle hooks to help minimize injuries to, and mortality of, released fish.

[Cutler]

Permit info from above link:



Atlantic HMS Angling Permit (Recreational) Description

All owners/operators of vessels fishing recreationally for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2007 Atlantic HMS permits cost $28.00 and will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2008.

Atlantic HMS Charter/Headboat Permit Description

All owners/operators of charter/headboat vessels fishing for and/or retaining regulated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (Atlantic tunas, sharks, swordfish and billfish) in the Atlantic Ocean, including the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, must obtain an Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) permit. Similar to Atlantic tunas permits, 2007 Atlantic HMS permits cost $28.00 and will be valid from the date of issuance through December 31, 2008.

[Great Escape]

I'm glad they finally have this on-line. In this day and age, I wish they had it up sooner. Now we should all use it