VMS Daily Catch Reports - Average 5-day Length Trips

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
NOAA FISHERIES SERVICE
Office of Law Enforcement
Northeast Division
55 Great Republic Drive
Gloucester, MA 01930-2276

VMS Reporting Instructions for Vessel Owners/Operators
Woods Hole Group Triton & LEO Version
Effective – August 29, 2020
These instructions are developed for the use of vessel owners and operators who are required to
maintain a VMS unit and send reports in accordance with the Greater Atlantic Fisheries Regulations
at 50 CFR 648.9 and 648.10. These instructions supplement these regulations and do not replace
them. Owners and operators are encouraged to review the regulations.
These instructions are also available on-line through the NOAA website:
New England/Mid-Atlantic webpage - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/region/new-england-mid-atlantic
and
Office of Law Enforcement webpage - https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/topic/enforcement

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Table of Contents
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS – IN PORT .................................................................................4
Continuous Reporting .......................................................................................................................4
Power Down and Letter of Exemption (LOE) ..................................................................................4
Table 1 – In Port VMS Reporting Requirements…………………………………………….. 4
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS – BEFORE LEAVING PORT .................................................5
VMS Power .......................................................................................................................................5
VMS Hardware .................................................................................................................................5
VMS Software...................................................................................................................................5
Activity Declaration ..........................................................................................................................5
Fishing Inside of, or Inside & Outside of, the VMS Demarcation Line on a Trip ....................6
Fishing on the Same VMS Declaration that was Last Declared ................................................6
Chart 1 – Multispecies Broad Stock Areas (BSA) ...................................................................7
Chart 2 - Eastern and Western U.S./Canada Management Areas ............................................8
Chart 3 - Multispecies Special Access Program (SAP) Areas .................................................9
Chart 4 - Monkfish Northern Fishery Management Area/Offshore Fishery Program Area ..10
Declaring Out of Fishery.................................................................................................................11
Declaring the Monkfish Option with a Multispecies Declaration ..................................................12
Declaration Code.............................................................................................................................12
Declaration Acknowledgment .........................................................................................................12
Required VMS Reports ...................................................................................................................12
Table 2 - VMS Forms Required to be Sent before Leaving Port ............................................12
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS – AT SEA AND RETURNING TO PORT ...........................12
VMS Demarcation Line ..................................................................................................................12
Trip Start and End ...........................................................................................................................13
Position Reporting...........................................................................................................................13
If the VMS Unit Stops Positioning .................................................................................................13
NMFS Courtesy E-Mail Notification of Trip Start and End ...........................................................13
Secondary Courtesy E-Mail Address Service .................................................................................14
If You Do Not Receive Your Trip E-mail(s) ..................................................................................14
Declaring an Incorrect VMS Activity Declaration .........................................................................14
Changing the VMS Declaration during a Trip ................................................................................15
Declaring a Multispecies or Monkfish ‘Flex’ Trip ..................................................................15
‘Flipping’ the Multispecies Days-at-Sea (DAS) Type.............................................................15
Changing from a Multispecies to a Monkfish DAS Declaration .............................................15
Required VMS Reports ...................................................................................................................16
Table 3 - VMS Forms Required to be Sent While in the NE Fishery .....................................17
VMS E-Mail Messaging .................................................................................................................17
Trip ‘Stitching’ ................................................................................................................................17
ADDITIONAL VMS INFORMATION ...........................................................................................18
DAS Charging for VMS Trips ........................................................................................................18
VMS Messaging Costs ....................................................................................................................18
Replacing Your Vessel’s VMS Unit ...............................................................................................18
Removing Your Vessel’s VMS Unit ..............................................................................................18
Contacting the VMS Team .............................................................................................................18
Table 4 - VMS Team Contact List ..........................................................................................18
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Alternate E-Mail Address to Contact the VMS Team ....................................................................18
Contacting the VMS Support Center ..............................................................................................19
VMS Reimbursement Program .......................................................................................................19
Contacting NMFS Enforcement ......................................................................................................19
Contacting your VMS Vendor ........................................................................................................19
CHANGE LOG ..................................................................................................................................20
ATTACHMENT 1 - WHG Declarations & Forms – NOAA Forms v16 .................................................22
ATTACHMENT 2 - How to ‘Confirm the Use of a Previous VMS Code’ .......................................61
ATTACHMENT 3 - Groundfish Catch Reporting Requirements (Flow Diagram) ..........................63

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REPORTING REQUIREMENTS – IN PORT
1. Continuous Reporting. While in port your VMS is required to continuously report your vessel’s
position to NMFS. Scallop-permitted vessels must report every half-hour, while all other vessels
report hourly.
2. Power Down and Letter of Exemption (LOE). You may turn the power off to your VMS under
specific conditions. You must first consider all of your active GAR permits that require a VMS –
your most restrictive reporting requirement will apply. Table 1 below shows VMS reporting
requirements by permit:
Permit (Note 1)
Limited Access
Scallop
Surfclam
Ocean Quahog
Herring

Category
2,3,5,6,7,8

Start of each Fishing Year:
Must report 24/7 every half-hour.

1
6
A,B,C,E,
Carrier

Maine Mahogany
Quahog (Note 2)
LAGC Scallop (general
category)

7

Must report 24/7 every hour.
Must report 24/7 every hour.
Must report 24/7 every hour, except Carrier
which must report 24/7 from 1st carrier trip
declared via VMS.
Must report 24/7 every hour from 1st MMQ
trip, regardless of fishing year
Must report 24/7 every half-hour.

Multispecies (Note 3)

A,D,E,F

Monkfish

F

A,B,C

Longfin & Illex Squid, and 1A,1B,5,6
Butterfish Moratorium
Mackerel
T1,T2,T3
When electing to provide
VMS notifications under:
Monkfish
Occasional Scallop

A,B,C,D
4,9

Must report 24/7 every hour from 1st
groundfish trip taken and for remainder of
fishing year.
Must report 24/7 every hour during the
Offshore Fishery Program season October 1
to April 30 only.
Must report 24/7 every hour.

Exception (Note 4)

May apply for NMFS
Letter of Exemption
(LOE).

May declare the
Power Down
declaration (Note 1).

May apply for LOE.

Must report 24/7 every hour.
Must report 24/7 from 1st elected VMS trip
taken and for remainder of fishing year.
Reports every hour.
Reports every half-hour.

Table 1 – In Port VMS Reporting Requirements
•

Note 1. Your most restrictive permit applies in determining whether you can power down your VMS
in port. Example – if you hold an LAGC scallop permit and a surfclam permit, you must report 24/7
at the dock/mooring and cannot declare the power down code.

•

Note 2. These vessels are not required to use a VMS until they fish for, land, take, possess or transfer
ocean quahogs under a limited access Maine mahogany quahog permit. From that point forward, they
must keep the VMS unit on at all times and make trip declarations for as long as the permit is issued
to the vessel.

•

Note 3. Sector vessels must have an operational VMS installed when (1) fishing on a sector trip
declared into the groundfish fishery, or (2) when targeting monkfish or skate on a groundfish days-atsea (DAS); the VMS must be on and used from the first trip until the end of the fishing year. There
may be annual NMFS exemptions that apply to certain sectors. Common pool vessels must have an
operational VMS installed when (1) taking the first groundfish DAS trip, or (2) when Category C and

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HA-permitted vessels are fishing in more than one Broad Stock Area; they must also keep the VMS
on and use VMS for all subsequent trips through the fishing year.
•

Note 4. The regulations at 50 CFR 648.10(c)(2) allow a vessel to power off their VMS after (1)
obtaining a NMFS Letter of Exemption (LOE), or (2) sending the power down declaration. The
vessel’s most restrictive permit will determine which situation applies. Circumstances that allow an
owner to obtain an LOE include (1) the vessel is expected to be out of the water for > 72 consecutive
hours, or (2) the vessel will be dockside or moored for a minimum of 30 consecutive days (the vessel
may not engage in any fisheries or move from the dock/mooring until the VMS unit is turned back
on). The request must be made in advance of the intended exemption period. The LOE application
form is available on the VMS web page or by contacting the VMS Team (see Page 18). Fill it out and
email, fax or mail it to the VMS Team in advance of the date you intend to turn the VMS unit off.
You may not turn your VMS unit off until you receive your LOE from NMFS. The LOE must reside
on the vessel at all times.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS - BEFORE LEAVING PORT
1. VMS Power. If your VMS has been powered off, turn it on and confirm that the unit is reporting
normally by checking for both a GPS and Iridium signal. You may call the VMS Team to ensure that
OLE is receiving your vessel’s signal.
2. VMS Hardware. Be sure that your Android tablet is connected via Bluetooth to your Thorium
LEO or Triton VMS. A common problem experienced by users is that they attempt to send a
declaration or report, but the tablet is disconnected from the VMS unit. On the Thorium screen, the
“Status” should state “Connected” (green letters) and a current date/time and position displayed. The
tablet is also required in order to be VMS-compliant at sea as it allows NMFS to communicate with
your vessel via e-mail.
3. VMS Software. Run the current version of NMFS-required Woods Hole Group (WHG) software
on your Android tablet. Failure to install the required software will compromise your ability to send
proper declarations and forms, and may lead to enforcement action. Contact WHG if your unit does
not have the required software (see page 19).
Effective November 25, 2019 - WHG Thorium Software v2.5.1 and NOAA Forms v16
4. Activity Declaration. For every trip, go to the Thorium homepage and begin by clicking on the
‘Forms’ button on your tablet. Go to the ‘NE Declarations’ menu, complete the required steps (and
any appropriate optional steps) and send an activity declaration for your intended trip (see two
exceptions below). Your Thorium VMS software has built-in logic that helps you make and send a
‘valid’ declaration (‘valid’ means NMFS regulations allow your chosen combination of gear, DAS,
area(s), broad stock area(s), etc.).
When selecting areas and broad stock areas to fish, Charts 1-4 on pages 7-10 may be useful. When
your selections are valid, the ‘Submit’ button will appear at the bottom, right corner of your tablet.
The Attachment 1 provides you with screen views and guidance for each of the Thorium
declarations and forms. Please familiarize yourself with the declaration screens before reading on.
Paragraphs 5 and 6 below provide guidance on sending a declaration for ‘Declare Out of Fishery’
(DOF) trips and ‘Monkfish Option’ trips.

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a. Exception 1 - Fishing Inside of, or Inside & Outside of, the VMS Demarcation Line
on a Trip. VMS starts and ends trips as the vessel crosses the VMS demarcation line (see page 12
for an explanation) and is not able to accurately calculate trip length in these situations. If you intend
to fish completely inside the VMS demarcation line, or fish both inside and outside the demarcation
line on the same trip, you must (1) declare the trip through the Interactive Voice Response (IVR)
Call-In system (1-888-284-4904) and (2) declare the DOF-CML (Fishing – Commercial) activity
declaration on your VMS unit (Note – If you experience difficulty using the IVR system, call the
Analysis and Program Support Division (APSD) for assistance at (978) 281-9234. APSD also
maintains a back-up IVR message line at 888-487-9994).
b. Exception 2 - Fishing on the Same VMS Declaration that was Last Declared. This
alternative method allows owner/operators to call the IVR system and follow the prompts to
‘Confirm the Use of a Previous VMS Code’. It is not to be used in lieu of an inoperable VMS.
This feature saves you the step of sending a declaration from your VMS unit and will provide you
with a confirmation number; however, it may only be used if your declaration is identical to the last
declaration received by NMFS. The IVR system will report to you the last 12-character VMS
declaration ‘code’ received from your vessel so be prepared to know the declaration code you wish
to use for your trip. See Attachment 2 for directions on how to use this feature.
Charts 1-4 on the following pages depict various regulatory areas to assist you with Multispecies and
Monkfish declaration reporting.

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Chart 1 - Multispecies Broad Stock Areas (BSA) (50 CFR 648.10(k)(3))
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Chart 2 – Eastern and Western US/Canada Management Areas (50 CFR 648.85(a))
Note – Both the Eastern and Western US/CA Areas are entirely within the Offshore Georges Bank
Broad Stock Area (OGB BSA). Therefore, when declaring either the Eastern or Western US/CA, or
both, under the Broad Stock Area question you must also select the OGB BSA.

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Chart 3 – Multispecies Special Access Program (SAP) Areas (50 CFR 648.85(b))
Note – Both SAPs are entirely within the Offshore Georges Bank Broad Stock Area (OGB BSA).
Therefore, when declaring either the Eastern US/CA Haddock SAP, CA-2 Yellowtail Flounder/
Haddock SAP, or both, under the Broad Stock Area question you must also select the OGB BSA.
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Chart 4 – Monkfish Northern Fishery Management Area (50 CFR 648.91(a)) and
Offshore Fishery Program Area (50 CFR 648.95(c))

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Note – When declaring a Monkfish trip and also using Multispecies days-at-sea, you must declare
those multispecies broad stock areas (BSAs) you intend to fish. The Monkfish Northern Fishery
Management Area (NFMA) covers all four (4) BSAs as shown above; you must select one or all of
the BSAs you intend to fish. The Southern Fishery Management Area (SFMA) is the area entirely
outside the NFMA; if you intend to fish any part of your trip in the SFMA, you must also select one
or all of the four BSAs you intend to fish.
For those few Monkfish Category F permit holders who fish the Offshore Fishery Program Area and
also intend to use Multispecies days-at-sea, this area covers two BSAs – you must select the
Offshore Georges Bank (OGB) BSA and/or Southern New England/Mid-Atlantic (SNE-MA) BSA.
5. Declaring Out of Fishery. These declarations are used whenever the vessel’s activity will be any
activity other than the requirement to declare a limited access scallop trip, general category scallop
trip, multispecies sector or common pool trip, monkfish days-at-sea trip, herring trip, surfclam trip,
ocean quahog trip, Maine mahogany quahog trip, longfin or illex squid trip, or mackerel trip. This
declaration is also appropriate for any vessel movement away from the dock/mooring when no
fishing activity is intended (for example, transits, equipment shakedown/testing, retrieving lost gear,
etc). You will find the Declare Out of Fishery (DOF) declaration by selecting ‘NE Declarations’.
There are seven (7) DOF declarations to choose from, as follows:
•

Transit without Product Onboard. Select for all transits between ports when there is no
fishing activity, as well as equipment shakedown/testing, retrieving lost gear, etc.
(VMS code: DOF-TST-XXXXXX).

•

Transit with Product Onboard. Select for all transits authorized by regulations in which the
vessel is declaring out of a VMS-required fishery and there is product onboard the vessel
(VMS code: DOF-TSP-XXXXXX).

•

Fishing - Commercial. Select for trips when fishing that does not require a declaration for
the species listed above (Para. 5) or for activities covered by Exception 1 on page 6. This
declaration also requires you to choose your intended gear (VMS code: DOF-CMLXXX?XX, where ‘?’ represents the gear code chosen).

•

Exempted Fishing Permit. Select for trips when fishing on an EFP and targeting species not
addressed in the other declaration macros. This declaration also requires you to choose your
intended gear. (VMS code: DOF-EFP-XXX?XX where ‘?’ represents the gear code chosen).

•

Fishing - Recreational/Charter. Select for recreational and charter fishing trips (VMS code:
DOF-REC-XXXXXX).

•

Scientific Research. Select for trips involving scientific research activity when not on an
Experimental fishing permit (VMS code: DOF-SCI-XXXXXX). This declaration also
requires you to choose your type of research – NMFS Letter of Acknowledgment (LOA) or
Other Research.

•

NAFO. Select only when permitted by NMFS to participate in the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries Organization (NAFO) outside the U.S. EEZ (VMS code: DOF-NAF-XXXXXX).

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6. Declaring the Monkfish Option with a Multispecies Declaration. If you anticipate exceeding
the monkfish incidental catch limit while on a multispecies sector or DAS trip and want to retain the
monkfish caught, declare the monkfish option. This action preserves your ability to change to a
monkfish DAS trip later while at sea (you do not accrue Monkfish DAS unless you decide during the
trip to redeclare your trip as a Monkfish trip). However, you must fish your multispecies trip entirely
within the monkfish Northern Fishery Management Area (NFMA). Your VMS code will show an
‘M’ (for monkfish option) or an ‘I’ (for monkfish option and on an EFP trip) in the 2nd to last
character. To declare the option, go to the appropriate multispecies sector or common pool
declaration screen, and select ‘yes’ at the optional question ‘Do you want to add the monkfish
option?’.
7. Declaration Code. Your declaration is converted by your VMS software into a 12-character
VMS code (format: XXX-XXX-XXXXXX) and transmitted to NMFS when you click on the
‘Submit’ button. At the top of your screen, click ‘Forms’, and then ‘Submissions’ to view the
declaration message you are sending. Once the declaration is transmitted, the tablet will display a
green check mark below the declaration code and date. You can click on the sent declaration on the
‘Submissions’ screen to view a summary of your selections. Check the code and description to be
sure they accurately reflect your intended activity.
8. Declaration Acknowledgment. Regulations require that you send an accurate declaration;
therefore, you are encouraged to await an acknowledgment. When your declaration is received by
the satellite provider’s gateway or LES (Land-Earth Station), the green check mark on your
‘Submissions’ screen is your acknowledgment (see Attachment 1); it is your confirmation that
NMFS will receive the declaration that you sent. It is possible that your declaration may be delivered
to NMFS before you receive an acknowledgment; you may always call the VMS Team during the
workday to confirm receipt of your declaration.
Note – If you don’t receive an acknowledgment within 15 minutes from the time you sent
your declaration, you have the option of canceling your declaration message and resending a
declaration. If you choose to cancel your declaration before it is sent, go to ‘Submissions’ and then
press and hold on your declaration. This action will bring up a window that states “Are you sure you
want to delete this submission? Click ‘delete’ to cancel your declaration.
9. Required VMS Reports. Your VMS software also includes several required forms (reports). We
have covered the sending of an activity declaration prior to leaving port. Now, we will discuss those
forms that, if appropriate for your intended activity, must be sent before leaving port. A list of these
forms is in Table 2 below. See Attachment 1 to view these forms.
VMS Form
Multispecies Trip Start Hail

RSA & EFP Trip Start Hail

Must be sent by:
All Sector vessels declaring a groundfish
trip only when intending to fish on a
NMFS exemption/option.
All vessels as required by their NMFS
RSA or EFP Letter of Authorization.

Purpose
To provide advance notification
to enforcement personnel.
To provide advance notification
to enforcement personnel and to
track individual RSA quota.

Table 2 – VMS Forms Required to be sent before Leaving Port
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS – AT SEA AND RETURNING TO PORT
1. VMS Demarcation Line. The VMS demarcation line is defined by a series of lines connecting
51 coordinates as described in 50 CFR 648.10 and the VMS web page. The line generally follows
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the contour of the Eastern Seaboard from northern Maine to North Carolina. When your vessel
crosses the VMS demarcation line, the NMFS monitoring system automatically records a trip start
and trip end event for your trip. Your trip starts on the first VMS position seaward of the line and
ends with the first VMS position shoreward of the line.
2. Trip Start and End. A VMS trip consists of the VMS-assigned Trip Identification Number,
VMS Activity Declaration (Code), Trip Start Date/Time, Trip End Date/Time, and Trip Duration. A
VMS trip automatically starts on the first position report sent by your VMS unit that is seaward of
the demarcation line (defined as ‘in the Northeast Fishery’). A VMS trip automatically ends on the
first position report shoreward of the demarcation line upon the return to port. The declaration that is
initially associated with the trip and reported to you in the Trip Start e-mail (described below) is the
last declaration successfully received from your vessel prior to leaving port. The declaration reported
to you in the Trip End e-mail is the final declaration associated with the trip and recorded in the
VMS and GARFO databases.
Note - Do not declare out of the fishery on your return to port to end your trip or stop your
days-at-sea clock – as previously stated, your trip automatically ends with the first VMS position
shoreward of the demarcation line on the return to port.
3. Position Reporting. Your vessel’s VMS unit must be operational by sending automatic position
reports, and be capable of sending and receiving messages. If you hold a VMS-required limited
access or general category scallop permit, your VMS must send position reports on a half-hourly
basis regardless of the vessel’s activity. For all other permits requiring the use of VMS, the unit must
send automatic position reports on an hourly basis regardless of the vessel’s activity. For vessels that
hold multiple permits, the most restrictive VMS reporting rate applies. If you replace your VMS
unit, be sure the replacement unit is correctly set to your vessel’s proper reporting rate.
Note - To determine if your Thorium VMS is positioning normally and sending required
position reports to NMFS, at the Thorium homepage check to be sure that there is a green icon
showing above ‘GPS (Satellite)’ along with a valid position latitude, longitude, date and time, as
well as a green icon above ‘Iridium’. The “Status” should also state “Connected” in green letters. If
you suspect the unit is not positioning, call WHG for technical support (see page 19).
4. If the VMS Unit Stops Positioning. Please be sure that your VMS unit is well maintained and
sending the required position reports. Periodically check your unit to ensure it is positioning
normally. If your VMS unit stops functioning (positioning and/or messaging) and you are unable to
restore normal operation, your vessel is no longer VMS-compliant and continuing to fish may result
in a violation. Notify the VMS Team, and have the unit checked/repaired and returned to operational
status before the next trip.
5. NMFS Courtesy E-Mail Notification of Trip Start and End. The VMS Team manages a script
that automatically sends a courtesy trip start and trip end e-mail to your VMS unit for every trip. All
costs associated with courtesy e-mails are paid for by NMFS; no cost is incurred by your vessel.
The Trip Start e-mail is sent approximately 4 hours after a trip start is recorded by the NMFS
monitoring system. The message will be in the following format (example shown):

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From: NMFS.OLE.NE@noaa.gov
To:
(vessel’s VMS unit e-mail address)
Subject: F/V (name) - Trip Start
Trip Start:
2019-12-01 09:30
Trip ID:
1301010
VMS Code: NMS-SEC-OPXWXA. If code is incorrect, return to a port & redeclare.
NE VMS Team: 978-281-9213.
Note - The trip start email that your VMS unit receives from NMFS is not a confirmation of
your trip declaration, but only provides the most-recent declaration received from your vessel.
The Trip End e-mail is sent approximately 6-8 hours after a trip end is recorded. If your VMS is
powered down while in port, delivery of the message to your VMS may time out before you receive
it. You can also provide the VMS Team with a personal e-mail address to receive the trip start/end emails and other e-mails from NMFS (see Secondary Courtesy E-Mail Address Service below).
The delays in delivery of trip start and end e-mails are a necessary feature of the NMFS VMS trip
generation system to ensure accurate trip accounting.
The message will be in the following format (example shown):
From: NMFS.OLE.NE@NOAA.GOV
To:
(vessel’s VMS unit e-mail address)
Subject: F/V (name) - Trip End
Trip End:
2019-12-01 21:30
VMS Code: NMS-SEC-OPXWXA
Trip ID:
1301010
Trip Length: 0.5 days
6. Secondary Courtesy E-Mail Address Service. The VMS Team maintains an e-mail service that
allows owners to receive trip e-mails and other NMFS VMS correspondence with the vessel via the
owner’s personal e-mail address. Contact the VMS Team. There is no charge to the vessel owner for
this service.
7. If You Do Not Receive Your Trip E-mail(s). The VMS Team stops the trip generation program
temporarily any time that a delay in delivery of VMS data is detected from one or more VMS
vendors. This is necessary to prevent problems with the proper generation of trips that could affect
trip accounting. Once the trip generator is restarted, any backlog of trip e-mails should be sent to
your vessel and, if appropriate, the secondary e-mail address. For questions, call the VMS Team.
8. Declaring an Incorrect VMS Activity Declaration. If your vessel leaves port on a trip and you
declared the wrong activity, it’s recommended that you return the vessel to a port (or inside the VMS
demarcation line for scallop-permitted vessels on scallop trips) and redeclare the proper activity
through your VMS unit. If unable to do so, notify the VMS Team. You do not necessarily have to
return to the port from which you departed. The vessel must be in a port, or as close to the port as
safety dictates.

14

9. Changing the VMS Declaration during a Trip. When in the NE Fishery, your VMS unit does
not allow you to change your trip declaration, except under three specific situations:
•
•
•

Declaring a ‘flex’ on a groundfish or monkfish trip;
Flipping the groundfish DAS type from ‘B’ to ‘A’, when possession limits are exceeded; and
Changing from a multispecies trip to a monkfish DAS trip (only if the monkfish option was
declared in port).

If eligible, a vessel may flex, flip or change to a monkfish declaration only once per trip. These
actions do not necessarily have to occur simultaneously. These three situations are further described
below.
Note – Except under specific circumstances when the use of ‘Declare out of Fishery with
Product Onboard’ is authorized by NMFS, you may not send another activity declaration after
crossing the demarcation line upon return to port while you have product onboard the vessel.
a. Declaring a Multispecies or Monkfish ‘FLEX’ Trip. A flex is declared at sea in the NE
Fishery by adding fishing area(s) to the groundfish or monkfish declaration that you sent in port.
When your VMS recognizes that your vessel is inside the NE Fishery and regulations allow a flex
from your original declaration, the software will present you with the flex option upon selecting ‘NE
Declarations’ and the appropriate ‘Multispecies Plan - Sector’, ‘Multispecies Plan – Common Pool’,
or ‘Monkfish Plan’ declaration. Only one flex per trip is allowed. Sector and common pool vessels
have different flex options. To declare a flex, go to the declaration screen that you used to make your
initial declaration for the trip, then:
•
•
•
•

The first screen will state, “You are currently inside the NE fishery zone. You are only
allowed to do a FLEX depending on your initial declaration.” Select ‘Yes, I want to FLEX’.
Select additional program area(s) you intend to fish. Your previous area selections will have
a check mark by them; if you attempt to delete the check mark, you will receive an alert
reminding you that this area must be selected to flex.
Select any additional BSAs you intend to fish. Again, your previous area selections will have
a check mark by them. Be sure that you select BSAs that encompass the program area(s) that
you chose.
Click on ‘Submit’.

b. ‘Flipping’ the Multispecies Days-at-Sea (DAS) Type. This situation applies to
Multispecies Common Pool vessels only. When multispecies trip limits are exceeded while fishing
on a declared Regular or Reserve ‘B’ DAS trip, you must change or ‘flip’ your VMS trip declaration
to ‘A’ DAS. To flip, go to the Multispecies Common Pool declaration screen that you used to make
your initial declaration for the trip, then:
•
•
•

The first screen will state, “You are currently inside the NE fishery zone. You are only
allowed to do a FLEX or a FLIP depending on your initial declaration.” Select ‘No FLEX’.
The next screen will state, “Do you want to FLIP?” Select ‘Yes.
Click on ‘Submit’.

c. Changing from a Multispecies to a Monkfish DAS Declaration. To invoke the
monkfish option that you selected with your initial declaration, and change to a monkfish DAS
declaration at sea, go to the Monkfish declaration screen, then:
15

•
•
•
•
•

Select ‘Monkfish Plan’.
The first screen will state, “You are currently inside the NE fishery zone. You are only
allowed to do a Monkfish change of your initial declaration.” Select ‘Yes’.
You may also be presented with the option to FLEX. Select ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.
Select your BSAs.
Click on ‘Submit.

Your new Monkfish declaration will retain the trip modifier ‘M’ (for Monkfish Option) or ‘I’ (for
Monkfish Option on an EFP trip) in the 2nd to last character of the code. You may also flex (one
time) either before, during or after changing to a Monkfish DAS declaration. If you do not intend to
invoke the monkfish option and want to remain on a groundfish trip declaration, no action is
required and you may land your trip on the original declaration. Remember, if you declare the
monkfish option before leaving port but decide to fish any part of your trip in the monkfish SFMA,
you forfeit your option to change to a Monkfish DAS declaration. Your VMS screen provides brief
instructions for changing to a Monkfish DAS declaration. The instructions are located on the Sector
and Common Pool Multispecies declaration screens.
10. Required VMS Reports. The forms shown below are required to be sent from your VMS unit,
as appropriate, while your vessel is at sea and seaward of the VMS demarcation line. A list of these
forms is shown in Table 3 below. See Attachment 1 to view these forms and specific reporting
instructions.
VMS Form
Multispecies
Catch Report

Must be sent by:
Vessels on groundfish-declared trips on a daily or trip-level basis, and
upon switching to smaller mesh to fish under an exemption/option.

Purpose
To report VTR and estimated
weights prior to landing.

Refer to the flow chart in Attachment 3 for guidance.
Multispecies
Trip End Hail
Monkfish Trip
Limit Overage
DAS
Adjustment
Scallop Daily
Catch Report

Scallop PreLanding
Notification

All vessels on groundfish-declared trips at least 6 hours before arrival.
Those vessels on monkfish-declared trips that exceed their DAS
charge, before crossing the VMS demarcation line on return to port.

All vessels on declared scallop trips by 9 am daily. This report is not
required for vessels on a single-day trip and sending a scallop prelanding notification.
Limited Access and LAGC vessels on the following trips at least 6
hours before arrival (or upon crossing shoreward of the demarcation
line when a limited access vessel declares out of the limited access
scallop day-at-sea fishery to transit to a port south of 39 degrees North
with scallops onboard):
(1) All vessels on a declared limited access or LAGC scallop trip;
(2) A vessel with an LAGC IFQ or NGOM scallop permit is retaining
scallops when not on a declared scallop trip;
(3) Declaring out of the limited access scallop day-at-sea fishery to
transit to a port south of 39 degrees North with scallops onboard.

16

To provide advance notice for
the monitoring of offloads.
To report that the daily trip
limit was exceeded by one
extra limit so that the vessel’s
DAS charge may be adjusted.
To report VTR and estimated
weights prior to landing.

To provide advance notice for
the monitoring of offloads.

VMS Form
Herring Daily
Catch Report

Must be sent by:
All vessels on a declared herring trip by 9 am daily.

Herring
Pre-Landing
Notification
Mackerel and
Squid Daily
Catch Report
Mackerel PreLanding
Notification
RSA and EFP
Trip End Hail

All vessels on a declared herring trip at least 6 hours before arrival.

Purpose
To report VTR, and estimated
pounds kept and discarded
prior to landing.
To provide advance notice for
the monitoring of offloads.

All vessels on a declared mackerel or squid trip by 9 am daily.

To report VTR and estimated
weights prior to landing.

All vessels on mackerel-declared trips when the landing will exceed
20,000 lbs at least 6 hours before arrival.

To provide advance notice for
the monitoring of offloads.

All vessels at least 6 hours before arrival as required by their NMFS
RSA or EFP Letter of Authorization.

To provide advance notice for
the monitoring of offloads
and to track individual RSA
quota.

Table 3 – VMS Forms Required to be Sent While in the NE Fishery
11. VMS E-Mail Messaging. The VMS Team uses e-mail to communicate with your vessel via the
VMS. Communications include notifying all VMS vessels of short-notice regulatory changes (area
closures, possession limits, etc) and notifying individual vessel operators of potential closed area
incursions, VMS non-reporting, declaration miscodings, requests to contact a NMFS enforcement
agent or officer, etc. In addition to other notification methods, the Coast Guard may request the
VMS vendors to send a severe weather warning. For these purposes, it is important that you monitor
your incoming VMS e-mail and maintain the capability to send outgoing e-mail.
12. Trip ‘Stitching’. The trip stitching function is a part of the VMS trip generation program. Its
purpose is to keep a trip open if a vessel briefly enters and positions shoreward of the VMS
demarcation line then exits outside the line to continue its trip. The individual trip segments are
stitched or joined together as one trip. For example, vessels that transit through Vineyard and
Nantucket Sound may cross the demarcation line several times on their outbound or inbound trip. If
trip stitching was not applied, a single trip may be recorded by NMFS as two or more trips, affecting
the trip length and/or DAS charge. The rules associated with trip stitching are:
a. Did the base VMS declaration code (first 6 characters, ie, XXX-XXX) remain the same
before and after the vessel entered the demarcation line? and;
b. Was the vessel inside the demarcation line for less than 4 hours (or, less than 55 minutes
for LAGC scallop trips)?
If the answer to both questions above is yes, trip stitching will keep the trip intact so that only
one trip is recorded. An unintended effect of trip stitching may occur when a vessel ends one trip
then departs on another trip within 4 hours under the same base VMS code. Two separate trips may
be captured as a single trip. Also, entering back inside the demarcation line for longer than 4 hours,
such as transiting the Vineyard/Nantucket Sound area at slow speed, may result in a single trip being
recorded as two trips. If you believe that your trip has been erroneously affected by trip stitching,
call the VMS Team.

17

ADDITIONAL VMS INFORMATION
1. DAS Charging for VMS Trips. The DAS Program is managed by the Analysis and Program
Support Division (APSD). Please contact APSD for assistance at (978) 281-9234.
2. VMS Messaging Costs. Vessel owners are financially responsible for all regulatory reporting
requirements through VMS, which typically include the messaging shown below. It is recommended
that you confirm your payment plan and associated costs with your VMS vendor. NMFS pays for all
messages that we send to your vessel and for any additional position reports sent from your VMS
unit if NMFS temporarily increases your reporting rate. Vessel owners typically pay for:
•
•
•
•

All required 30 or 60-minute position reports sent to NMFS.
All NMFS-required VMS declarations and reports.
All other outgoing messages.
All incoming messages, except those originated by NMFS.

3. Replacing Your Vessel’s VMS Unit. Please notify the VMS Team within 3 days of installation
of the new unit and prior to your next trip. You will need to submit documentation that you have
installed an operational, approved VMS unit. Complete the VMS Certification form available under
the ‘Instructions & Forms’ tab on the VMS web page. Email, fax or mail the form to the VMS Team.
4. Removing Your Vessel’s VMS Unit. You may not remove the VMS from the vessel if you are
required to report using VMS. If you cancel or transfer your permits, or sell the vessel and will no
longer fish the vessel, contact your VMS vendor. The vendor is responsible for notifying NMFS of
any VMS unit deactivations. You may also call the VMS Team to advise us of your intentions.
5. Contacting the VMS Team. The VMS Team is located in the Northeast Enforcement Division
at: Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA, 01930.
• Phone Number:
(978) 281-9213 (follow call prompts)
• FAX Number:
(978) 281-9317
• Hours:
7:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday
Name
Bill Semrau

Position
Program Manager

VMS Responsibility
Overall program management

Michelle
Cavanaugh

Technician

Zachary Fyke

Technician

Samantha
Tolken

Technician

Herring, Mackerel & Squid Reporting; Power
Down Letters of Exemption; Activations &
Deactivations; Welcome Letters
Scallop, Surfclam, Ocean Quahog, Maine
Mahogany Quahog & NAFO Reporting;
Power Down Letters of Exemption
Multispecies, Monkfish & NAFO Reporting;
Activations & Deactivations

Contact Info
William.Semrau@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9151
Michelle.Cavanaugh@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9239
Zachary.Fyke@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9274
Samantha.Tolken@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9230

Table 4 – VMS Team Contact List
6. Alternate E-Mail Address to Contact the VMS Team. You can send a VMS message at any
time to: nmfs.ole.ne@noaa.gov. The VMS Team monitors this mailbox during business hours and
will respond to your query. Your VMS Trip Start and End e-mails are sent from this address.
18

7. Contacting the VMS Support Center. If you are unable to reach the VMS Team, the National
VMS Support Center has extended hours of operation and may be able to answer general questions
about VMS registrations and vessel position reporting. The Support Center is also the primary point
of contact for the National VMS Reimbursement program (see below). The Support Center will refer
technical VMS questions to the appropriate vendor and regulatory questions to the Greater Atlantic
Region. The Support Center is located at NMFS Headquarters, Office of Law Enforcement, 1315
East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910. Hours of operation are 7:00 am to 11:00 pm,
Monday-Friday. Their phone number is (888) 219-9228 (toll-free).
8. VMS Reimbursement Program. This program is centrally managed from OLE Headquarters,
Silver Spring, MD. On the VMS web page, refer to the section entitled ‘VMS Reimbursement
Program’ for a summary of the program, and a link to the latest Federal Register announcement of
May 6, 2008. Owners/operators who believe they may be eligible should call the VMS Support
Center to obtain a confirmation code then submit an application to the Pacific States Marine
Fisheries Commission (PSMFC). Contact the VMS Support Center or refer to the following website:
www.psmfc.org.
9. Contacting NMFS Enforcement. For law enforcement emergencies only, call the Enforcement
Hot Line toll-free on a 24-hour basis at (800) 853-1964. Please do not call the Hot Line for a VMSrelated equipment or technical issue; rather, contact your respective VMS vendor (below). For law
enforcement-related questions or concerns that are of a non-emergency nature, contact your local
NMFS enforcement office during business hours as follows:
a. Northeast Enforcement Division District 1 – New England:
•
•
•

Office:
Coverage:
Phone Number:

Gloucester, MA
Maine through Connecticut
(978) 281-9213

b. Northeast Enforcement Division District 2 – Mid-Atlantic:
•
•
•

Office:
Coverage:
Phone Number:

Wall, NJ
New York through Virginia
(732) 280-6490

10. Contacting your VMS Vendor. Woods Hole Group may be reached at:
•
•
•
•
•

Address:
Phone:
E-mail:
Call Center:
Web Address:

4300 Forbes Blvd., Suite 110, Lanham, MD 20706
(240) 492-1944
support@woodsholegroup.com
24/7 for technical support (call above phone number)
https://thoriumvms.com

Attachments: (1) Thorium LEO/Triton Declarations and Forms – NOAA Forms Version 16
(2) How to ‘Confirm the Use of a Previous VMS Code’
(3) Groundfish Catch Reporting Requirements

19

CHANGE LOG
DATE
15 Jun 2014

CHANGES
Incorporates all reporting changes associated with the June 2015 VMS software upgrade.

28 Mar 2016

Pages 12-13, Multispecies Catch Report. For ‘Trip-Level Reporting’, changed the
‘multiple BSA’ requirement from Steps 1, 2 & 3 to Steps 1, 2 & 4. For ‘Redfish Exemption
Reporting’, changed the ‘switching codends’ requirement from Steps 1-4 to Steps 1-5. For
‘Small Mesh Exemption Reporting in Southern New England’, changed the ‘completing the
large mesh portion of the trip’ requirement from Steps 1, 2 & 4 to Steps 1, 2, 4 & 5.
Page 31. For ‘Trip-Level Reporting’, changed the ‘multiple BSA’ requirement from Steps 1,
2 & 3 to Steps 1, 2 & 4.
Page 1. New effective date – June 15, 2017.
Page 3. New Attachment 3.
Page 4. Added ‘Note 1’ to LAGC Scallop ‘Exceptions’. Added Illex Squid requirement.
Added text regarding sector exemptions.
Page 5. Changes to software instructions.
Page 7 Clarified text in DOF paragraph and updated DOF look-up.
Page 8. Added gear text to DOF-CML paragraph and revised the Code Log text.
Page 9. Clarified Trip Start Hail text in ‘Must be Sent By” block.
Pages 12 & 13. Multispecies Catch - Revised text in ‘Must be Sent By” block. Monkfish
DAS Overage - Added “by one limit” in “Purpose” block. Scallop & Squid/Mackerel Catch
and PreLanding - Text changes to “Must be Sent By” block.
Page 13. Changed Trip Stitching Rule for LAGC trips to 55 minutes.
Page 15. Added SMB Amendment 16 to the Reimbursement paragraph.
Attachment 1.
Multispecies and Monkfish declarations. Removed text that required the use of the IVR
Call-In System for scallop days-at-sea trips.
Scallop declaration. Revamped the format, added Elephant Trunk Flex Area, required that
an RSA filed be answered, and added gear reporting requirement for LAGC trips.
Surfclam/Ocean Quahog declaration. Added an optional third field to select a scallop
access area.
Squid declaration. Added a reporting requirement for Illex Squid. Removed the Squid RSA
field.
Declare Out of Fishery declaration. Added gear selections to DOF-CML declaration menu.
Powerdown declaration. Clarified the text.
Multispecies Catch. Revised smaller mesh field text.
Multispecies Trip Start Hail. Changed instruction text to ‘exemption and/or option’. Added
SNE Small Mesh Exemption and Extra-Large Mesh Gillnet option.
Scallop PreLanding. Revised instruction text (b). Added ‘All Other Fish Kept’ field.
Mackerel and Squid Catch. Added Illex Squid to ‘Species Kept’ field.
RSA/EFP Trip End Hail. Added field that asks if both commercial and RSA allocation will
be landed.
Page 14. Table 4. VMS Technician Ahles transferred out of OLE.
Attachment 3. Revised the (groundfish) catch report flow chart to reflect the regulatory
change implemented by GARFO and announced in their October 12, 2017 bulletin.
Page 5. New effective date and new forms release number.
Page 6. Added text at top of page that Charts 1-5 must not be used for the depiction of closed
areas.
Pg. 10. Added a ‘Note’ under paragraph 5.
Pg. 12. Scallop Daily Catch Report. Added text about single-day trips.
Pg. 15. Table 4. Added Samantha Tolken and updated responsibilities lists.
Pg. 16. Updated main phone number for the OLE D1 office.

12 June 2017

23 Oct 2017

17 Apr 2018

20

DATE
17 Apr 2018
(cont’d)

1 Mar 2019

22 Oct 2019

29 Aug 2020

CHANGES
Pgs. 25. Scallop Declaration. Revised screen. Revised instructions to allow selection of new
access areas and limited access NGOM RSA trip.
Pg. 28. Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Declaration. Revised screen to reflect new scallop
access area selections.
Pg. 29. Squid Declaration. Revised screen. Revised instructions to allow selection of a
combination longfin and illex trip.
Pg. 33. Multispecies Catch Report. Added text to the Step 7 instructions.
Pg. 41. Scallop Daily Catch Report. Revised screen to include text regarding single-day
trips.
Page 4. Table 1. Replaced the SMB-1 permit with the new SMB-1A and SMB-1B longfin
squid moratorium permits, and added the SMB-6 butterfish moratorium permit, all of which
now require use of a VMS.
Pg. 1. New effective date (Format 16) and new website text/views.
Pg. 5. New Thorium and NMFS software versions.
Pgs. 7-10. New GIS charts 1-4 depicting reporting areas with notes.
Pg. 11. Added DOF-EFP declaration text, and DOF-SCI type of research text.
Pg. 12. Para 6 – Added ‘I’ for monkfish option on an EFP trip. Table 2 - RSA/EFP Start Hail
- Revised text under ‘Purpose’.
Pg. 13. Para 4 - 3rd sentence. Revised text pertaining to action when VMS is no longer
compliant during a trip.
Pg. 14. Para 8 - Revised text pertaining to actions when the wrong VMS code is declared.
Pg. 16. Para 9c - Added ‘I’ for monkfish option on an EFP trip. Table 3. Revised text for
when the Scallop Preland must be sent.
Pg. 17. Revised text under ‘Purpose’ column for the RSA/EFP End Hail.
Pg. 19. Removed regulatory actions under the reimbursement program and revised/
shortened the paragraph. Updated location and phone number of NE Division, District 1.
Attachment 1. Replaced all declaration and forms views with newer versions and updated
the instructions.
Pg. 13. Para. 3. Removed text “While away from the dock or mooring” from 1st

sentence.
Pg. 18. Para. 3. Added email as a means to send the Certification form.
Table 4. Updated VMS Team roster & duties.
Pgs. 29 and 31. Updated the scallop declaration screens to reflect access area changes.

21

ATTACHMENT 1
Thorium LEO & Triton Declarations and Forms – NOAA Forms Version 16
Declarations. The following views will show you how to navigate to each of the declaration
screens. On the Thorium home screen, select ‘Forms’, and then ‘NE Declarations’:

You should see the declaration screen shown below:

22

Declaration screens are shown on the following pages. Once you select the appropriate screen to
make your declaration, swipe the screen to the left each time in order to view all required fields.
Answer each question by tapping on your selection or in the circle to the left of your selection. You
should see the empty circle to the left of your selection filled in. Swipe left to bring up the next field,
and so on. If you need to go back to a previous screen to view or change a selection, swipe to the
right (Note: Using the ‘back arrow’ button at the bottom of the screen while making a declaration
will bring up a window asking if you want to exit your declaration menu by saving or ignoring your
changes. If you select ‘Save Changes’, a draft will be saved under ‘Submissions’ (see description
below). If you select ‘Ignore Changes’, the software will delete your declaration selections up to that
point and take you back to the Forms screen).
Once you’ve answered all required fields, the tablet will display each of the questions and your
responses. Review your selections to ensure they describe your intended activity; press ‘Submit’.
On the Thorium home screen, your form data is being transmitted when you see an ‘up arrow’ in red
above the word ‘Data’ as shown below (left side). Select ‘Forms’ on the home screen, and then
‘Forms’ at the top left of the next screen to bring up ‘Submissions’ (right side).

Press ‘Submissions’ to view the form you sent:

23

Tapping on the form you just sent will bring up a screen showing each of the questions and your
responses:

In the following pages, guidance for completing each declaration is shown in the red boxes to the left
or right of the Thorium screen views (selections in any screen views are for illustrative purposes
only).
*** Note: When selecting an area or areas to fish in from the appropriate declaration screen,
be sure that the area(s) is open for your intended fishing activity. The areas shown on your
VMS declaration screen are entirely independent of any regulation or action by NMFS that
opens or closes an area. For assistance on regulatory areas that are open or closed, contact the
GARFO Sustainable Fisheries Division (978-281-9315) or the VMS Team.
Multispecies (Sector) Declaration. Select ‘Forms’, then ‘NE Declarations’, and then ‘Multispecies
Plan – Sector’.
Note – For sector vessel
use only.
Step 1. Select ‘Yes’ only
if you may need to
change your declaration
while in the NE Fishery to
a monkfish trip.
Otherwise, select ‘No’.

Step 2. Select the gear
you intend to fish. Select
only one.

Step 3. Select one of the
3 choices, as appropriate.
Note that Multispecies is
abbreviated ‘Mults’.

24

Step 4. Select each
area you intend to fish.

Step 5. Select the Broad
Stock Area(s) (BSA)
that encompass the
areas you selected in
Step 4.

Step 6. If you will fish
under a NMFSauthorized EFP, select
‘Yes’. Otherwise, select
‘No’.

Multispecies (Common Pool) Declaration. Select ‘Forms’, then ‘NE Declarations’, and then
‘Multispecies Plan – Common Pool’.
Note – For common pool
vessel use only.
Step 1. Select ‘Yes’ only if
you may need to change
your declaration while in
the NE Fishery to a
monkfish trip. Otherwise,
select ‘No’.

Step 2. Select the gear you
intend to fish. Select only
one.

25

Step 3. Select the
appropriate Days at Sea
(DAS) for your trip. Your
choices are:
- Multispecies (mults) A
- Mults B-Regular
- Mults B-Reserve
- Mults A & scallop
- Mults B-Regular & scallop
- Mults B-Reserve & scallop

Step 4. Select each area you
intend to fish. If you intend to
fish in the B-DAS Program,
also make this selection
here.

Step 5. Select the Broad
Stock Area(s) (BSA) that
encompass the area(s) you
selected in Step 4.

Step 6. If you will fish under
a NMFS-authorized EFP,
select ‘Yes’. Otherwise,
select ‘No’.

26

Monkfish Declaration. Select ‘Forms’, then ‘NE Declarations’, and then ‘Monkfish Plan’.
Step 1. Select the gear you
intend to fish. Select only
one.

Step 2. Select the type of
Monkfish DAS you will be
using or select the
appropriate combination of
Multispecies DAS and
Monkfish DAS you will be
using. Select only one.

Step 3. Select only one of
the two fields. If you intend
to fish in both the NFMA
and SFMA, then select
“Any part of trip fished in
SFMA.”

27

Step 4. Select each area
you intend to fish.
If you selected only
Monkfish DAS in Step 2,
then select ‘MonkfishOnly’ (not shown).
However, CAT F vessels
should select ‘Monkfish
Offshore Area’.
If you selected Mults
(multispecies) DAS in
Step 2, you must select
appropriate mults areas
as shown here.

Step 5. Select the broad
stock area(s) (BSA) that
encompass the areas
selected in Step 4.
However, select
‘Monkfish-Only’ if you are
not using Multispecies
DAS (not shown).

Step 6. If you will fish
under a NMFS-authorized
EFP, select ‘Yes’.
Otherwise, select ‘No’.

Scallop Declaration. Select ‘Forms’, then ‘NE Declarations’, and then ‘Scallop Plan’.
Step 1. Select the permit
that you intend to fish.
The following screen
views show selections
for a trip under an LAGC
permit.

28

Step 2. Select only one
LAGC trip type.

Step 2a. If you select the
‘Regular Access Trip’,
select ‘Open’ area.

Step 2b. If you select the
‘Special Access Trip’,
select only one of the
scallop access area (SAA)
choices.

Step 2c. If you select the
‘Northern Gulf of Maine’,
select only one of the two
area choices.

29

Step 3. Select the gear
you intend to use.

Step 4. Select ‘yes’ or ‘no’
to the RSA question.

Step 5. If you intend to fish
on a NMFS-authorized
EFP, select ‘Yes’.
Otherwise, select ‘No’.
Send your LAGC Scallop
declaration.

Step 1. Select the permit
that you intend to fish.
The following screen
views show selections
for a trip under a Limted
Access permit.
Step 2. Select only one
trip type.

Step 2a. If you select the
‘Regular Access Trip’,
select ‘Open’ area.

30

Step 2b. If you select the
‘Special Access Trip’,
select only one of the
scallop access area (SAA)
choices.

Step 2c. If you select the
‘State Waters Exemption
Program’, select the ‘Open’
area.

Step 2d. If you select the
‘Northern Gulf of Maine
RSA Trip’, select the
‘NGOM (Federal)’ area.

Step 3. If you selected a trip
type in steps 2a, 2b or 2c
above, you must then select
‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the RSA
question. If you selected the
choice in step 2d above,
you must select ‘yes’ to the
RSA question.

Step 4. If you intend to fish
on a NMFS-authorized EFP,
select ‘Yes’. Otherwise,
select ‘No’.
Send your Limited Access
Scallop declaration.

31

Surfclam and Quahog Declaration. Select ‘Forms’, then ‘NE Declarations’, and then ‘Surfclam
and Ocean Quahog’ Plan:
Step 1. Select the type of
trip (only one).

Step 2. If you selected
‘Surfclam ITQ’ or ‘Ocean
Quahog ITQ’ in Step 1,
and you intend to fish one
of these 2 areas, select
the area. Otherwise, select
’None of the above’.

Step 3. Select an area,
but only if fishing in a
scallop access area and
retaining > 40 lb of
scallops. Otherwise,
select ‘None of the
above’.

Step 4. If you will fish
under a NMFSauthorized EFP, select
‘Yes’. Otherwise, select
‘No’.

32

Herring Declaration. Select ‘Forms’, then ‘NE Declarations’, and then ‘Herring’ Plan:
Step 1. Herring carrier
has no gear capable of
catching fish. Select
either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Select
only one.

Step 2. If you answered
‘no’ to the previous
question, this screen is
presented to you. Select
the gear you intend to
fish. Select only one.

Step 3. Select either ‘yes’
or ‘no’. Select only one.

Step 4. Select ‘Yes’ only
if you intend to harvest
herring quota under a
NMFS-authorized RSA.
Otherwise, select ‘No’.
Step 5. If you will fish
under a NMFSauthorized EFP, select
‘Yes’. Otherwise, select
‘No’.

33

Mackerel Declaration. Select ‘Forms’, then ‘NE Declarations’, and then ‘Mackerel’ Plan:
Step 1. Select either ‘yes’
or ‘no’. Selecting ‘yes’
requires that you answer
a gear question.

Step 2. If you answered
‘yes’ to step 1, select the
gear you intend to fish.
Select only one.

Step 3. Select either ‘yes’
or ‘no’. Select only one.

Squid Declaration. Select ‘Forms’, then ‘NE Declarations’, and then ‘Squid Plan’:
Step 1. Select the
species you intend to
target. Select one or
both.

Step 2. Select either
‘yes’ or ‘no’. Selecting
‘yes’ requires that you
answer a gear question.

Step 3. If you answered
‘yes’ to step 1, select the
gear you intend to fish.
Select only one.

Step 4. Select either
‘yes’ or ‘no’.

34

Declare Out of Fishery. Select ‘Forms’, then ‘NE Declarations’, and then ‘Declare Out of Fishery’:

Declare Out of Fishery: Select only one
of the seven (7) choices as follows:
DOF-CML. When targeting species not
addressed in the other declaration macros.
You must also select a gear below.
DOF-EFP. When on an EFP and targeting
species not addressed in the other
declaration macros. You must also select a
gear below.
DOF-TST. When transiting without product
onboard.
DOF-TSP. When transiting with product
onboard.
DOF-REC. When on a recreational trip.
DOF-SCI. When conducting scientific
research (not intended for EFP trips). You
must also select NMFS LOA or Other
Research below.
DOF-NAF. When fishing on a NMFSauthorized permit in the Northwest Atlantic
Fishery Organization.

If you selected “Fishing – Commercial” or
“Fishing – Exempted Fishing Permit”,
you must also select a gear.

35

Power Down in Port Declaration. Select ‘Forms’, then ‘NE Declarations’, and then ‘Power Down
in Port’:
Power Down: This
declaration is only for use
by LAGC scallop-permitted
vessels when in port as long
as they do not have other
permits requiring continuous
VMS reporting. Otherwise, a
NMFS Letter of Exemption
(LOE) is required.

=====================================================================
Forms. The following views will show you how to navigate to each of the forms (reports) screens.
On the Thorium home screen, select ‘Forms’, and then the appropriate fisheries plan forms:

NE Multispecies Plan: Selecting this plan brings up 3 forms as shown below:

36

Multispecies Catch Report:
All catch reports must contain at
least the operator permit number
and VTR number. Refer to
Attachment 3 on Page 63 for
guidance on when to send this
report.
Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

Note: To save space, subsequent views don’t show the keyboard at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit e-VTR
number.

Step 3. For daily reports, tap
‘Pick a date’, then use the
arrow icons (< or >) in the
calendar to select the
month, day, and year that
the fish were caught.
When you have selected the
month and year, tap on the
day, and then select ‘ok’.

37

Step 4. Enter the 3-digit
statistical (stat) area where
the species kept was
harvested (you may enter
up to 4 different stat areas
on a single catch report).

Step 5. Select all species
that were kept. There is
also a selection for ‘nongroundfish’ at the bottom of
the screen.

Step 6. For each species
and statistical (stat) area
selected, enter the weight
(up to 6 digits).
Step 7. Select the box
only if immediately
switching to smaller mesh.
During the remainder of
your trip, you do not need
to reselect this box.

38

Multispecies Trip START Hail:
The trip start hail is required
by NMFS only if a sector
vessel intends to fish on a
NMFS exemption or option
approved for your sector.

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit e-VTR
number.

Step 3. Select ‘yes’ if you
will be taking a NMFS
observer or at-sea monitor
onboard this trip.
Otherwise, select ‘no’.

Steps 4 & 5. Select all
appropriate exemptions
and/or provisions to be
fished under this trip.

39

Steps 6 & 7. Enter the
name of the city
(characters A-Z only) and
select the state where the
catch will be landed.

Step 8. To enter your
estimated return to port,
tap ‘Pick a date’, then
use the arrow icons (< or
>) in the calendar to
select the month, day,
and year.
Then use the scroll
feature to the right to
select the time of your
return.
When you have selected
the date and time, then
select ‘Set’.

40

Select ‘yes’ or ‘no’. If you
answer ‘yes’, you will be
asked to enter an estimated
offload date and time.

If you answer ‘yes’, the
next screen will ask you to
enter your estimated
offload date/time.

Step 9. To enter your
estimated offload, tap ‘Pick
a date’, then use the arrow
icons (< or >) in the
calendar to select the
month, day, and year.
Then use the scroll feature
to the right to select the
time of your return.
When you have selected
the date and time, then
select ‘Set’.

Step 10. Optional field.
NMFS may provide
instructions for use from
time-to-time.

Multispecies Trip END Hail:
The trip end hail is required
on all groundfish trips by
sector and common pool
vessels.
Read the instructions, and
then swipe to the left to
bring up the next screen.

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

41

Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit e-VTR
number.

Steps 3 & 4. Enter the
name of the city
(characters A-Z only) and
select the state where the
catch will be landed.

Step 5. Enter the dealer or
offload location (up to 25
alphanumeric characters).
Step 6. To enter your
estimated return to port,
tap ‘Pick a date’, then use
the arrow icons (< or >) in
the calendar to select the
month, day, and year.
Then use the scroll feature
to the right to select the
time of your return.
When you have selected
the date and time, then
select ‘Set’.

42

Step 7. Enter your
estimated offload date and
time.

Steps 8 & 9. Complete
only if you will offload at
another port.

Steps 10 & 11. Enter the
total amount of groundfish
kept and non-groundfish
kept in pounds.

43

Step 12. Optional field.
NMFS may provide
instructions for use from
time-to-time.

NE Monkfish Plan: Selecting this plan brings up the 1 form as shown below:

Monkfish Trip Limit Overage Days at Sea Adjustment:
Read the instructions, and
then swipe left to the next
screen.

44

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

Step 2. Enter your 7 or
8-digit VTR, or 14-digit
e-VTR number.

Step 3. To enter your
estimated return to port,
tap ‘Pick a date’, then
use the arrow icons (<
or >) in the calendar to
select the month, day,
and year.
Then use the scroll
feature to the right to
select the time of your
return.
When you have selected
the date and time, then
select ‘Set’.

\
NE Scallop Plan. Selecting this plan brings up the 2 forms as shown below:

45

Scallop Daily Catch Report:
Read the instruction, and
then swipe left to the next
screen.

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit e-VTR
number.

Step 3. Tap ‘Pick a date’,
then use the arrow icons (<
or >) in the calendar to
select the month, day, and
year that the fish were
caught.
When you have selected the
month and year, tap on the
day, and then select ‘ok’.

Step 4. Enter scallops kept
only (up to 6 digits).

Step 5. Enter Other Fish
Kept (excluding scallops).
Enter up to 6 digits.

46

Scallop Pre-Landing Notification:
Read the instruction, and
then swipe left to the next

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

Step 2. Select ‘yes’ if you
are sending a correction
to a report that you had
previously sent.

Step 2. If you answered
‘yes’ to the previous
question, tap ‘Pick a
date’, select the month,
day and year of the report
you need to correct.

47

If you answered ‘yes’ in
Step 2 and entered a date
in Step 3, this screen will
be presented to you. Read
the instructions and then
press ‘ok’.

Step 3. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit eVTR number.

Step 4. Select ‘yes’ if you
intend to land any
scallops. Otherwise, select
‘no’, and then send the
form.
Step 5. Select ‘yes’ or ‘no’
to indicate whether any
scallops to be landed were
harvested from the
Northern Gulf of Maine
Management Area.

Step 6. If only landing
meats, enter the estimated
weight in that field only. If
only landing bushels inshell, enter the estimated
number of bushels in that
field only. If landing both
meats and bushels, enter
the estimated weight and
bushel count in each field.
Step 7. Enter ‘All Other
Fish Kept’ (excluding
scallops). Enter up to 6
digits.

48

Step 8. To enter your
estimated return to port,
tap ‘Pick a date’, then use
the arrow icons (< or >) in
the calendar to select the
month, day, and year.
Then use the scroll
feature to the right to
select the time of your
return.
When you have selected
the date and time, then
select ‘Set’.

Step 9. Enter the name of
the city (characters A-Z
only) where the catch will
be landed.

Step 10. Select the state
where the catch will be
landed.

49

NE Herring Plan. Selecting this plan brings up the 2 forms as shown below:

Herring Daily Catch Report:
Read the instruction, and
then swipe to the left.

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit e-VTR
number.

Step 3. Tap ‘Pick a date’,
then use the arrow icons (<
or >) in the calendar to
select the month, day, and
year that the fish were
caught.
When you have selected the
month and year, tap on the
day, and then select ‘ok’.

50

Step 4. Select the herring
management area(s) from
which the fish were ‘kept’
and/or ‘discarded’.

You must fill in both ‘kept’
and ‘discarded’ for each of
the herring management
areas you selected in the
previous screen. Enter up to
7 digits in each field, as
appropriate.

Step 5. Answer this
question only if an observer
is onboard. Select ‘yes’ if
you had a slippage event for
this reported period.
Otherwise, select ‘no’ if no
slippage event occurred.
If you answered ‘yes’ in
Step 5, select the reason for
the slippage event. If you
select ‘other’, the next
screen will ask you to enter
the reason. Otherwise, the
next screen will be Step 6.
Step 6. If you are using
mid-water or bottom trawl
gear then select ‘yes’.
Otherwise, select ‘no’ and
then send the message.

Step 7. Only if you selected
‘yes’ to the previous
question, enter the
statistical area(s) and
associated amount of total
fish kept. Enter up to 7
digits.

51

Herring Pre-Landing Notification:
Read the instruction, and
then swipe to the left.

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit eVTR number.

Step 3. To enter your
estimated return to port,
tap ‘Pick a date’, then use
the arrow icons (< or >) in
the calendar to select the
month, day, and year.
Then use the scroll
feature to the right to
select the time of your
return.
When you have selected
the date and time, then
select ‘Set’.

Steps 4 & 5. Enter the
name of the city
(characters A-Z only) and
select the state where the
catch will be landed.

52

NE Squid, Mackerel and Butterfish Mackerel Plan. Selecting this plan brings up the 2 forms as
shown below:

Mackerel and Squid Daily Catch Report:
Read the instruction, and
then swipe to the left.

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

53

Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit e-VTR
number.

Step 3. Tap ‘Pick a date’,
then use the arrow icons (<
or >) in the calendar to
select the month, day, and
year that the fish were
caught.
When you have selected
the month and year, tap on
the day, and then select
‘ok’.

Step 4. Enter the estimated
weight of mackerel and/or
squid kept for that day. You
must complete at least one
of the 3 fields.

Step 5. Enter the estimated
weight of all product kept
for that day.

54

Step 6. Answer this
question only if an observer
is onboard. Select ‘yes’ if
you had a slippage event
for this reported period.
Otherwise, select ‘no’ if no
slippage event occurred.
If you answered ‘yes’ in
Step 6, select the reason
for the slippage event. If
you select ‘Other’, enter the
reason in the next field.

Mackerel Pre-Landing Notification:
Read the instruction, and
then swipe left.

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit eVTR number.

Step 3. To enter your
estimated return to port,
tap ‘Pick a date’, then use
the arrow icons (< or >) in
the calendar to select the
month, day, and year.
Then use the scroll feature
to the right to select the
time of your return.
When you have selected
the date and time, then
select ‘Set’.

55

Steps 4 & 5. Enter the name
of the city (characters A-Z
only) and select the state
where the catch will be
landed.

NE RSA and EFP Trip. This selection brings up the 2 RSA/EFP forms as shown below:

56

RSA and EFP Trip START Hail:
The specific reporting
requirements will be stated in
the NMFS permit that
authorizes your
compensation fishing or
experimental fishing activity.
Read the instruction, and
then swipe to the left.
Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.
Step 2. Enter the 4 or 5-digit
project code from your

Step 3. Enter your 7 or 8-digit
VTR, or 14-digit e-VTR
number.

Step 4. Enter the 3-digit
(IVR) port code where the
catch will be landed.
Step 5. Select the state
where the catch will be
landed.

57

Step 6. Step 3. To enter your
estimated return to port, tap
‘Pick a date’, then use the
arrow icons (< or >) in the
calendar to select the month,
day, and year.
Then use the scroll feature to
the right to select the time of
your return.
When you have selected the
date and time, then select
‘Set’.

Step 7. Optional field. NMFS
may provide instructions for
use from time-to-time.

RSA and EFP Trip END Hail:
The specific reporting
requirements will be stated in
the NMFS permit that
authorizes your
compensation fishing or
experimental fishing activity.
Read the instruction, and
then swipe left.

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.

Step 2. Enter the 4 or 5-digit
project code from your
permit.

Step 3. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit e-VTR
number.

58

Step 4. To enter your
estimated return to port, tap
‘Pick a date’, then use the
arrow icons (< or >) in the
calendar to select the month,
day, and year.
Then use the scroll feature to
the right to select the time of
your return.
When you have selected the
date and time, then select
‘Set’.

Step 5. Enter your
estimated offload date and
time.

Step 6. Enter the 3-digit
(IVR) port code where the
catch will be landed.

59

Step 7. Select the state
where the catch will be
landed.

Step 8. Enter the 2-digit IVR
species code, and then
below enter the estimated
weight of the species kept
and discarded, and, if
applicable, the associated
herring area (1A, 1B, 2 or 3).

Step 8 (cont’d). Repeat the
process above for any
additional species
kept/discarded. Up to 5
species may be entered in a
single trip end hail.

Step 9. Select ‘yes’ if you
intend to land both your
commercial and RSA
allocation. Otherwise, select
‘no’ for RSA allocation only.
Step 10. Optional field.
NMFS may provide
instructions for use from
time-to-time.

60

ATTACHMENT 2
How to ‘Confirm the Use of a Previous VMS Code’
Note: The information provided in this attachment is also available on the VMS web page.
Under U.S. Fisheries Law, vessel owner/operators are required to declare their activity for every
trip prior to leaving port. In response to a New England Fishery Management Council request
to ease the financial strain, time and technical burdens associated with declaring an activity
through the VMS unit on each trip, NMFS has developed an alternative declaration method
through the IVR system.
Who can use this method?
Vessel owner/operators who intend to fish a trip under the same VMS activity code that was last
sent from the vessel's VMS unit and received by NMFS, have the option of notifying NMFS
that they are confirming their previous VMS declaration by calling the IVR system.
Have the following information ready before calling:
•
•
•
•

Your vessel’s 6-digit federal permit number
Your IVR PIN (same as your Fish On-Line PIN)(available from the GARFO Analysis &
Program Support Division at 1-888-487-9994)
Your 8-digit operator permit number
Your most recent VMS activity code (format xxx-xxx-xxxxxx)

Instructions:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Call the IVR system at 1-888-284-4904.
At ‘Main Menu’, press 1 to “Report the start or end of a trip, declare a block, or confirm the use
of a previous VMS code.”
At ‘Fishing Activity Reporting’, enter your vessel’s 6-digit permit number and your IVR PIN.
When prompted, record your name and operator permit number, then press the # key.
When prompted, press 1 to confirm your name and operator number, or press 2 to re-record the
information.
When prompted, press 4 to “Confirm the use of a previous VMS code.”
The IVR will respond with either:

(1) “Your most recent VMS activity code is ( ).” When prompted, press 1 to confirm the use
of this code. The system will then provide you with a confirmation number which you should record
and keep with you on your trip. However, if this is not the code you will use, when prompted,
hang up and declare your trip through your VMS unit; or
(2) “Your most recent VMS activity code cannot be confirmed.” When prompted, hang up
and declare your trip through your VMS unit.

61

ATTACHMENT 2 (Cont’d)
How to ‘Confirm the Use of a Previous VMS Code’
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
• All other VMS reporting requirements for your trip still apply.
• This alternative method of declaring a trip prior to leaving port is not to be used in lieu of an inoperative
VMS unit. Your VMS unit must be fully functional.
• The IVR back-up message line should not be used if you are unable to use the main IVR
system.
• The code reported to you by the IVR system is the most recent code sent from your vessel’s
VMS unit and received by NMFS. Therefore, your most recent code sent may be from your
last trip or when in port after your last trip.
• If the IVR system is unable to confirm your VMS activity code, it is likely for one of the
following reasons:
(1) No code for your vessel could be retrieved;
(2) Your last code was the power down code (PWD-PWD-XXXXXX);
(3) Your last code was a Southeast Region code (for dual-reporting vessels); or
(4) Your last code was a code that could only be declared when inside the NE Fishery.
• You will still receive an automated trip start and trip end message from NMFS through your
VMS unit. Your trip will be recorded in NMFS’ monitoring system with the code that you
confirmed through the IVR system.

62

ATTACHMENT 3

63