Since 2007, a number of select Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishermen have been required to participate in the Electronic Logbook program requiring vessel permit holders to install and maintain electronic logbooks.
by NOAA staff
Since 2007, a number of select Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishermen have been required to participate in the Electronic Logbook (ELB) program requiring vessel permit holders to install and maintain electronic logbooks.
The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries program has undergone recent changes.
Previously the program requiring selected Gulf shrimp vessel permit holders to install and maintain the ELB units was administered at no cost to boat owners . Units on approximately 500 Gulf shrimp vessels were deployed through an outside contractor. Unfunded, the program lapsed at the end of 2013.
According to NOAA Fisheries, to continue the program the Gulf shrimping industry needs to share in the cost of the program.
“The industry has not had to pay for this program before now,” said NOAA Southeast Fisheries spokesperson Kim Amendola. “The change to the program we announced is the industry will now share the cost with NOAA Fisheries. Previously NOAA Fisheries was able to entirely fund the program.”
With the availability of more modern and efficient technology, NOAA Fisheries has purchased new units and will pay for software development, data storage, effort estimation analysis, and archival activities. The preliminary estimated cost for vessel owners will be approximately $20/month for data transmission, and one-time installation at an estimated cost of approximately $200.
NMFS establishes funding responsibilities for the upgrade. The purpose is to ensure management of the shrimp fishery is based upon the best scientific information available and bycatch is minimized to the extent practicable.
NOAA Fisheries will inform vessel owners by letter that they have been selected to participate in this program.
Selected vessel owners will have 90 days to comply with the regulations to install and activate new ELB units — 30 days to activate a wireless account and 60 days to install the new ELB unit after it has been recieved. To activate an account, vessel owners must contact Verizon Wireless by e-mail or by phone at 888-211-3258.
For more information please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions on the NOAA Fisheries Web site. Electronic copies of the framework action that establishes the cost sharing program may be obtained from the NOAA Fisheries web site.
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