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How To Complete a Commercial eVTR Using Fish Online eVTR App for iOS

Operators of federally permitted vessels must submit a vessel trip report (VTR) for each fishing trip. VTRs provide data that informs fishery science and management decisions. This page shows you how to complete VTRs electronically.

New England/Mid-Atlantic

Table of Contents

Use this page for guidance on filling in eVTR fields to complete your report. Visit this webpage for information on how to download Fish Online and set up an account. 

NOTE: The document Electronic Vessel Trip Report (eVTR) Reporting Instructions (PDF, 50 pages) provides the complete reference information that you need to satisfy reporting requirements.

Report a Trip with Catch

Vessel Information

  1. Begin a trip by tapping the + sign.
  2. Tap EVTR TRIP REPORT in the Create New Report pop up.
  3. Enter your vessel and trip information, and then tap NEXT.

Trip Type

  1. Select TRIP TYPE, NO. OF CREW, tap NEXT.
  2. Review, tap SAVE.

Effort

  1. Tap + , then tap ADD EFFORT.
  2. Enter GEAR, GEAR QTY, GEAR SIZE, and MESH/RING SIZE, then tap NEXT.
  3. Enter CHART AREA, NO. OF HAULS, TOW/SOAK TIME, and FISHING DEPTH, then tap NEXT.
  4. Select LAT/LON FORMAT, then enter LAT and LON (if on fishing location tap Use GPS), then tap SAVE.

Catch

  1. Tap ADD CATCH, then tap ADD CATCH ITEM.
  2. Enter and select species from the search field.
  3. Enter the pounds KEPT and the pounds DISCARDED. (If you discarded no fish, you must enter 0 into the Discard field.) Tap SAVE, then tap DONE. Continue to add your catch until you have reported all of it, then tap DONE in the upper part of the screen.
  4. Tap VTR TRIP REPORT in the upper left corner of the screen.
  5. Tap + , then tap SET DATE AND TIME LANDED.
  6. Enter date and time landed, then tap SAVE.

Offload Items

  1. Tap + , then tap ADD OFFLOAD Items.
  2. Tap ADD OFFLOAD ITEM. Select a species to offload, Tap NEXT.
  3. Enter QTY OFFLOADED, then DEALER NAME OR NUMBER,
  4. Select OFFLOADING PORT, then DATE OFFLOADED. Tap DONE, then tap SAVE.
  5. Tap DONE.

Sign

  1. Tap the Sign icon.
  2. Review trip (use the NEXT button to scroll through information), then check the I certify box.
  3. Tap SUBMIT. If accepted, tap OK.

NOTE: The trip will be transmitted the next time your device is connected to the internet.

Split Trips

There are two possible ways for a split trip to occur:

  1. A vessel goes on a trip, enters a port, offloads only a portion of the catch, then returns to sea to conduct more fishing. This activity is considered as two separate trips and requires you to submit two independent eVTRs.
  2. A vessel goes on a trip, enters a port, offloads only a portion of the catch, then steams to a second port (i.e., home port) to offload all remaining catch. This activity is considered as two separate trips and requires you to submit two independent eVTRs. The second eVTR is a no-effort trip that must include the Trip Activity code Transit With Product On Board.

Vessel Information

  1. Begin a trip by tapping the + sign.
  2. Tap EVTR TRIP REPORT in the Create New Report pop up.
  3. Enter your vessel and trip information, and then tap NEXT.

Trip Type

  1. Select TRIP TYPE, NO. OF CREW, tap NEXT.
  2. Review, tap SAVE.

NOTE: You should complete this step while leaving port.

Effort

  1. Tap + , then tap ADD EFFORT.
  2. Enter GEAR, GEAR QTY, GEAR SIZE, and MESH/RING SIZE, then tap NEXT.
  3. Enter CHART AREA, NO. OF HAULS, TOW/SOAK TIME, and FISHING DEPTH, then tap NEXT.
  4. Select LAT/LON FORMAT, then enter LAT and LON (if on fishing location tap Use GPS), then tap SAVE.

Catch

  1. Tap ADD CATCH, then tap ADD CATCH ITEM.
  2. Enter and select species from the search field.
  3. Enter the pounds KEPT and the pounds DISCARDED. (If you discarded no fish, you must enter 0 into the Discard field.) Tap SAVE, then tap DONE.
  4. Continue to add your catch until you have reported all of it, then tap DONE in the upper part of the screen.

Important Split Trip Information

Once you have added all catch for that effort, tap VTR TRIP REPORT in the upper left corner of the screen.

NOTE:  If you have changed the statistical area (Chart Area) or changed the Gear Type, tap the + sign to add another Effort. If you have not changed the Chart Area or changed the Gear Type, you are done with Efforts and are returning to port.

For boats going to port for weather, or going to unload only a portion of their catch, please follow these specific instructions:

  1. Tap + , then tap SET DATE and TIME LANDED.
  2. Enter date and time landed, then tap SAVE.

Offload Items

  1. Tap + , then tap ADD OFFLOAD ITEM(s).
  2. Select a species to offload by tapping it (if you are offloading multiple species just tap on those species you are offloading), Tap NEXT.
  3. Enter QTY OFFLOADED, then DEALER NAME OR NUMBER.
  4. Select OFFLOADING PORT, then DATE OFFLOADED. Tap SAVE.

To add the rest of your offload items that are not being sold:

  1. Tap ADD OFFLOAD ITEM at the bottom. 
  2. Tap SELECT ALL, and the rest of the offload items will be highlighted. 
  3. For Dealer Name, select RETAINED FOR FUTURE SALE.
  4. For Dealer Permit, enter 4.
  5. Enter  OFFLOADING PORT and DATE OFFLOADED, then tap SAVE. Now tap DONE.
  6. Tap the SIGN icon next to the + sign at the bottom.

Sign

  1. Review for accuracy the date/time sailed and landed, and the offload sales details. 
  2. Tap the box and tap SUBMIT. 

Important Split Trip Information

At this point the trip has been submitted. When the vessel leaves port to continue its trip, start a new eVTR for the rest of the trip. Follow the steps for completing the trip report as you would normally.

IMPORTANT: Only the catch caught on the “second leg” of the trip should be entered in the current eVTR because the fish already on board have been accounted for in the previous eVTR that you filled out. Provide the dealer with the eVTR Trip ID number from current trip and let that dealer know that the offload is a combined trip. 

Did Not Catch

You must report your trip even if you didn’t catch any fish:

  1. Begin a trip by tapping the + sign. 
  2. Enter your vessel and trip information, then tap NEXT.
  3. Enter Trip Type, No. of crew and Operator, then tap NEXT.
  4. Review, then tap SAVE.
  5. Tap +, tap ADD EFFORT, then enter Gear Code, Gear QTY, Mesh/Ring size then Tap Next
  6. Select Chart Area, No. of Hauls, Tow/Soak time and depth.  Tap NEXT.
  7. Select LAT/LON FORMAT, then enter LAT and LON or ”Use GPS” function if on location. Tap SAVE.
  8. Tap Add Catch, When prompted to Add Catch Item, type/search for No Catch in the species search box, then tap SAVE, then DONE.
  9. Tap VTR TRIP REPORT in the upper left corner.
  10. Tap + , Tap SET DATE TIME LANDED. Enter date/time then tap SAVE.
  11. Tap the Sign icon, review by tapping NEXT, check off certification box, tap SUBMIT to sign and submit your report.

You must report your trip if you began a fishing trip but returned to port before fishing occurred due to issues like bad weather, mechanical problems, or illness:

  1. Begin a trip by tapping the + sign.
  2. Enter your vessel and trip information, then tap SAVE. 
  3. Tap the + sign, tap SET DATE AND TIME LANDED, enter date and time, then tap SAVE.
  4. Tap the Sign icon to review your sail and land information, then tap NEXT. 
  5. Select the proper trip activity, then tap NEXT. 
  6. Submit your report.

Contact Us

Contact our Help Desk at (978) 281-9188, nmfs.gar.reporting@noaa.gov, or your local Port Agent.

Last updated by Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office on 03/15/2024

Electronic Reporting