For the first time in 30 years, NOAA Fisheries is modernizing our Atlantic Coast logbook reporting systems for both commercial and for-hire fishermen. We will increase our data sharing capabilities and simplify and speed up the reporting process for fishermen, which could reduce costs. In fact, our Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office benefited from $300,000 annual cost savings after moving to paperless reporting and permitting.
Previously, we collected similar information on vessels, effort, and catch in separate systems. This resulted in redundant data entries and data management systems doing similar tasks, duplicating processes and information. Now, we are modernizing our five science center logbook systems:
- Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office Vessel Trip Reporting
- Southeast Regional Office For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting
- Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Pelagic Fisheries Logbook
- Southeast Commercial Fisheries Logbook
- Southeast Headboat
The goal is to have all federal logbook data from Maine through Texas collected electronically and available in a centralized, standardized system. We will also improve the data quality, resilience, reliability, and accessibility of all five reporting systems. Our focus is on the data collected from fishing trips and the information systems used to gather and process those data. This initiative also aims to enhance support for critical monitoring requirements—such as quota monitoring and stock assessments—and provide timely, high-quality data for fishery managers.
Ultimately, we seek a more efficient process of storing and sharing data. This new integrated database system will source from data captured across multiple offices, allowing us to increase information sharing and prevent duplicative entries. It will also set the foundation for creating a logbook application framework for use by others.
Efficiencies and Advancements
This project will increase the electronic data collection of federal logbooks and establish data governance protocols and procedures to support a shared data system. Additionally, it will greatly enhance data sharing ability, both within NOAA Fisheries and among our partners. A single logbook application will make it easier to analyze federal data for the entire East Coast and will remove obstacles for fishers who are required to report under different federal management authorities.
The new system will benefit both industry and management. Electronic reporting will speed up and streamline the reporting process for fishers, while NOAA Fisheries will receive reports in seconds rather than weeks. It will shorten time for data analytics, reporting across regions, and enhance the data fidelity and effectiveness of logbook reporting at an enterprise level. This effort will reduce the total commitment required to run multiple systems while also reducing stakeholders' data reporting burden. Additionally, it will provide a single source of federal data for state and commission fishery management partners. The end result will be timely, high-quality fisheries-dependent data that is integrated across the East Coast, resulting in much more effective science and management.
Next Steps and Looking Forward
“Combining five independent logbook systems into a single system for the Atlantic Coast will save costs and create opportunities, through economies of scale, to build a higher functioning system. The end result will be more and higher-quality data, which will allow for more agile management of fisheries,” states Torey Adler, software development manager at Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office.
This system will be integrated across all science centers and offices on the Atlantic Coast. It will reduce lag time between reporting and data availability, resulting in more timely data for science and management. Enhanced data sharing ability, both within NOAA and for partners and the public, will make it possible to analyze data for the entire East Coast to answer questions such as fish stock locations and catch frequency. This will allow for improved agile management and sustainability of the fisheries with expanding habitats.
The project is supported by the Fisheries Information System program East Coast Data Integration and Innovation Professional Specialty Group. The system is a state-regional-federal partnership that supports sound, science-based fisheries management by fostering collaboration and funding innovative projects to improve the quality of fisheries-dependent data.
