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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 34 Number 6
February 2007
NMFS explains days-at-sea counting glitches
With the help of fishermen affected by the recent problems with days-at-sea counting experienced by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), CFN put together the following list of questions for the agency. The answers were returned in less than two days and were provided by the NMFS Northeast Region and NMFS Office of Law Enforcement staff. –Editor
Q: From the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) perspective, how would you describe the recent days-at-sea counting difficulties fishermen have been experiencing? Is this an enforcement problem, vessel monitoring system (VMS) vendor problem, NMFS information technology problem, or something else?
A: The recent difficulties have resulted in service that has not been up to the standards the agency strives for or that fishermen expect. No VMS information transmitted by vessels during this time was lost. Although NMFS had to temporarily suspend providing days-at-sea information, beginning Jan. 16, we resumed providing days-at-sea balances to fishermen.
As you know, more vessels than ever are now required to install and use VMS. This means, of course, increases in the amount and types of information coming through the system.
Both software and hardware problems were discovered as the most recent upgrades to the system were performed. These problems interfered with delivery of satellite-based data and with providing accurate days-at-sea balance information.
Some problems are attributable to NMFS and some to the vendor providing the satellite interface. Fixing the data issues is a high priority and we are working both internally and with our vendors to resolve remaining problems with our days-at-sea accounting system and delivery of satellite-based data.
Q: NMFS has made it clear that keeping track of days-at-sea used is ultimately the fisherman’s responsibility, but why wouldn’t NMFS be the best and final source for information on how many days-at-sea any given vessel has used?
A: Our goal is to be able to provide accurate records of fishing activity to fishermen, and we recognize that many people rely on us to do so. Even when operating perfectly, however, the VMS system (just like online banking) can’t provide real-time accounting. NMFS is able to monitor days-at-sea use closely, but not as immediately as the vessel operator can.
Also, like any other business record, owners need to keep their own account of days-at-sea use. The data set collected through VMS has to be audited, verified, and corrected if necessary. Good records kept by individuals can be crucial in helping us to discover problems with the days-at-sea and VMS programs.
Providing days-at-sea balances in real-time is not the intent of the VMS requirement. The system’s design is focused on improving enforcement of fisheries regulations, providing the monitoring required for quota-based and/or trip-limited fishing, allowing two-way communication of information between NMFS and vessels, and accounting for days-at-sea usage sufficiently to support management measures.
Q: Why do the trip-begin and trip-land confirmation e-mails not arrive in a timely manner? Sometimes they arrive days or weeks later or not at all. Recently the system sent one fisherman an e-mail indicating that his boat was on a trip when it was tied at the dock and he was out of state.
A: If by timely you mean immediately, it’s important to know that trip-start and -end confirmation e-mail messages are not real-time. In fact, they are intentionally delayed a few hours to account for occasional delays in the delivery of VMS data through the system. This built-in delay reduces the chances of NMFS sending erroneous trip notification e-mails.
Currently, delivery of the trip-start e-mail is delayed approximately two hours, while the trip-end e-mail is delayed approximately six hours. Delivery of trip notification e-mails can be further affected by unintentional delays in delivery of VMS data to NMFS by the VMS satellite providers.
A common reason messages are “not delivered at all” is that a VMS unit is turned off when delivery is attempted. It’s important to leave the VMS on in order to receive all messages or to leave a forwarding e-mail address for delivery when the unit is off.
Without more information, it is hard to know exactly what may have happened in the example you use. If it’s a glitch, the NMFS Office of Law Enforcement Northeast VMS Team needs to know about it and can help resolve any problems this may have caused.
It’s true that there has been confusion about VMS procedures, especially as we currently have more new users than ever. We will be including a set of VMS user instructions in an upcoming permit holder letter. VMS user information is currently available on the fishing industry homepage found at the NMFS Northeast Region web site at <www.nero.noaa.gov>.
One more reminder: Vessel owners using Skymate VMS units must upgrade the unit’s software to Version 3.86 at the earliest opportunity because the VMS codes in the older software versions are no longer valid, making it difficult for NMFS to provide these users accurate days-at-sea balances.
Q: In mid-January, fishermen reported receiving bizarre e-mails from NMFS containing erroneous trip numbers, fluctuating days-at-sea usage reports, and negative days-at-sea numbers. Some of these e-mails were dated as far back as October. What happened?
A: The error was the unintended result of maintenance work being performed on the system by a VMS vendor. The problem was corrected shortly after we found out about it, and we issued a fleet-wide e-mail about it on Jan. 16 and 17. Vessel owners are not charged for trip notifications sent by NMFS.
Q: Is it possible for NMFS to make an enforcement person available 24-hours-a-day for fishermen to contact when VMS-related problems come up?
A: NMFS is not currently able to fund a 24-hour help line for VMS-related questions. However, the Office of Law Enforcement, Northeast VMS Team, can be contacted at (978) 281-9213, Monday-Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm or via e-mail at <nmfs.ole.ne@noaa.gov>.
Q: NMFS apparently is having trouble issuing days-at-sea leases in a timely manner. Why?
A: We did experience delays in processing days-at-sea leasing requests during the implementation of the new system to monitor days-at-sea use. These delays have abated. We strive to process leases in less than the 45 days specified in the regulatory guidance and so far have done so despite the transition problems.
Q: When can fishermen expect NMFS to resolve these problems? Are they fixable?
A: As noted, we have resolved the issues related to days-at-sea accounting. We are still working on other issues related to both the volume of new users and new reporting requirements.
We believe the existing problems will be resolved, but keep in mind the system will always require maintenance and upgrades, and the data will always need to be audited, verified, and corrected.
Things will go wrong, as with any system. Our goal is to find and correct problems, and resolve any data issues that result as quickly and completely as possible. /cfn/
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