Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Dealer Reporting

On August 8, 2012, NOAA Fisheries published a final rule that modified existing Atlantic highly migratory species (HMS) dealer reporting regulations for Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and bigeye, albacore, yellowfin, skipjack (BAYS) tunas. As of March 15, 2016, a federal shark dealer permit is required to purchase  smooth dogfish from a fishing vessel. Dealers are required to electronically report smooth dogfish as they are any other Atlantic shark. Additionally, as of July 28, 2016, dealers must electronically report bluefin tuna through the SAFIS reporting program, regardless of where the dealers reside or where the bluefin tuna have been caught.

Background

• Since January 1, 2013, all Atlantic HMS dealers have been required to electronically report commercially-harvested Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and BAYS tunas through a NOAA Fisheries-approved electronic reporting program. NOAA Fisheries integrated additional required data elements (as of January 1, 2013) into all the NOAA Fisheries-approved electronic reporting programs.

• Dealers must submit reports for commercially-harvested Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and BAYS tunas on a weekly basis (Sunday to Saturday) no later than midnight, local time, of the first Tuesday following the end of the reporting week. Reports are required whether dealers bought HMS during that weekly reporting period (i.e., a “positive” report) or did not buy HMS during that weekly reporting period (i.e., a “negative” report).

• As of July 28, 2016, dealers must electronically report Atlantic bluefin tuna through the SAFIS reporting program, regardless of where they reside or where the Atlantic bluefin tuna have been caught. Dealers must report bluefin tuna within 24 hours of receiving them, and they are also required to submit bi-weekly forms. However, negative reports are not required for bluefin tuna-only dealers.

• NOAA Fisheries created a separate electronic reporting program for dealers with only HMS dealer permits who only purchase non-bluefin tuna HMS. This electronic HMS dealer reporting program is known as “eDealer.” Dealers only meet federal Atlantic HMS reporting requirements when using the eDealer reporting program.

• In addition to eDealer, there are numerous NOAA Fisheries-approved electronic reporting programs that allow dealers to meet both state and federal reporting requirements and report all species that they have purchased.

Electronic Dealer Reporting System

• There are two parts to the eDealer system. There is a reporting program that allows dealers with only HMS dealer permits to electronically submit all data for commercially-harvested Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and BAYS tunas. There is also an application that NOAA Fisheries uses to track the non-bluefin HMS purchases by seafood dealers from Maine to Texas, including the U.S. Caribbean.

• The eDealer application consolidates all non-bluefin dealer data from Maine to Texas, including the U.S. Caribbean. It pulls non-bluefin dealer data from the existing electronic reporting programs, including SAFIS and different versions of Trip Tickets, so that dealers can report purchases from fishing vessels through their existing reporting program and meet their state and federal reporting requirements regardless of their location.

• If you are a dealer using SAFIS or a version of the Trip Ticket program, you can use these programs to report Atlantic sharks, swordfish, and BAYS tunas to meet your federal Atlantic HMS dealer reporting requirements, in addition to other state and federal reporting requirements.

• Bluefin tuna cannot be reported through the eDealer or Trip Ticket programs. As explained above, bluefin tuna can only be reported electronically through the SAFIS reporting program, and bluefin dealers are also required to fill out bi-weekly forms.

• If you are a dealer who is new to electronic reporting or an HMS-only dealer, please contact us at (301) 427-8590 regarding which program to use and access information. We can assist dealers during our normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Please refer to our frequently asked questions for additional information on the  electronic dealer reporting requirements.

Reporting Programs

• HMS eDealer Program

• SAFIS

• Trip Tickets, Bluefin Data LLC.

Useful Documents

• Bluefin Tuna Letter, April 20, 2017 (PDF, 4 pages)

• eDealer Final Rule

• eDealer Final Rule Email Notice (PDF, 2 pages)

• eDealer Compliance Guide (PDF, 7 pages)

• Optional Fishing Vessel Form (PDF, 2 pages)

• eDealer Program User Guide (PDF, 26 pages)

• HMS Catch Area Map (PDF, 1 page)

• Electronic Bluefin tuna (eBFT) Dealer Reporting System User Manual (PDF, 25 pages)

• SAFIS Electronic Reporting File Upload Users Guide (PDF, 44 pages)

• Large, Medium, and Giant Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Landing Form (PDF, 1 page)

• Fact Sheet for Dealers Purchasing Atlantic Bluefin Tuna from U.S. Vessels (PDF, 2 pages)
• Atlantic Tunas Dealer Permit Holder Reporting Instructions for Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (PDF, 6 pages)
• Fact Sheet for Dealers Purchasing Sharks, Swordfish, and BAYS Tunas (PDF, 1 page)

Contact Us

• (301) 427-8590

• HMS.DealerReports@noaa.gov