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
McMurdo Fleet Management (formerly Boatracs) Version
Effective –April 19, 2018
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 the regulations and do not replace them.
Owners and operators are encouraged to review the regulations.
These instructions are also available on the Greater Atlantic Region (GAR) VMS web page at
http://www.greateratlantic.fisheries.noaa.gov/vms/index.html as shown below:

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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 (Macros) ...................................................................................................................5
Activity Declaration ..........................................................................................................................5
Table 2 - Vessel Activity Report (Declaration) Macros ...........................................................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 - Statistical, Closed, Broad Stock, U.S./Canada, SAP & Monkfish Areas ..................7
Chart 2 - Eastern U.S./Canada Area .........................................................................................7
Chart 3 - Western U.S./Canada Area ........................................................................................7
Chart 4 - CA-2 Yellowtail/Flounder Haddock SAP .................................................................8
Chart 5 - Eastern U.S./Canada Haddock SAP ..........................................................................8
Declaring Out of Fishery...................................................................................................................8
Declaring the Monkfish Option with a Multispecies Declaration ....................................................9
Declaration Code...............................................................................................................................9
Declaration Acknowledgment ...........................................................................................................9
Required VMS Reports .....................................................................................................................9
Table 3 - VMS Forms Required to be Sent before Leaving Port ..............................................9
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS – AT SEA AND RETURNING TO PORT .............................9
VMS Demarcation Line ....................................................................................................................9
Trip Start and End .............................................................................................................................9
Position Reporting...........................................................................................................................10
If the VMS Unit Stops Positioning .................................................................................................10
NMFS Courtesy E-Mail Notification of Trip Start and End ...........................................................10
Secondary Courtesy E-Mail Address Service .................................................................................11
If You Do Not Receive Your Trip E-mail(s) ..................................................................................11
Declaring an Incorrect VMS Activity Declaration .........................................................................11
Changing the VMS Declaration during a Trip ................................................................................11
Declaring a Multispecies or Monkfish ‘Flex’ Trip ..................................................................12
‘Flipping’ the Multispecies Days-at-Sea (DAS) Type.............................................................12
Changing from a Multispecies to a Monkfish DAS Declaration .............................................12
Required VMS Reports ...................................................................................................................12
Table 4 - VMS Forms Required to be Sent While in the NE Fishery .....................................13
VMS E-Mail Messaging .................................................................................................................13
Trip ‘Stitching’ ................................................................................................................................14
ADDITIONAL VMS INFORMATION ...........................................................................................14
DAS Charging for VMS Trips ........................................................................................................14
VMS Messaging Costs ....................................................................................................................14
Replacing Your Vessel’s VMS Unit ...............................................................................................14
Removing Your Vessel’s VMS Unit ..............................................................................................14
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Contacting the VMS Team .............................................................................................................15
Table 5 - VMS Team Contact List ..........................................................................................15
Alternate E-Mail Address to Contact the VMS Team ....................................................................15
Contacting the VMS Support Center ..............................................................................................15
VMS Reimbursement Program .......................................................................................................15
Contacting NMFS Enforcement ......................................................................................................16
Contacting your VMS Vendor ........................................................................................................16
CHANGE LOG ..................................................................................................................................17
ATTACHMENT 1 - McMurdo Activity Reports (Declarations) v18 and Reports (Forms) v15 ......19
ATTACHMENT 2 - How to ‘Confirm the Use of a Previous VMS Code’ .......................................33
ATTACHMENT 3 - Groundfish Catch Reporting Requirements (Flow Diagram) ..........................35

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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

Longfin & Illex Squid
Mackerel
When electing to
provide VMS
notifications under:

1,5
T1,T2,T3

Monkfish
Occasional Scallop

A,B,C,D
4,9

A,B,C

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

Exception (Note 4)

May apply for NMFS
Letter of Exemption
(LOE).

May declare the
Power Down
declaration (Note 1).

May apply for LOE.

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

4

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
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 15). Fill it out and
mail, e-mail or fax 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. You may call the VMS Team to ensure that OLE is receiving your vessel’s signal.
2. VMS Hardware. Be sure that your McMurdo FMCT/G (formerly Boatracs) VMS enhanced
display unit (EDU) is connected and shows a normal status. The EDU is required in order to be
VMS-compliant at sea as it allows NMFS to communicate with your vessel via e-mail.
3. VMS Software (Macros). Run the current version of NMFS-required McMurdo Fleet
Management macros on your EDU. Failure to operate the required macros will compromise your
ability to send proper declarations and forms, and may lead to enforcement action. Approved macro
changes are typically sent over the air by McMurdo Fleet Management to all vessels via the satellite
network. Contact McMurdo Fleet Management if your unit does not have all the required macros
(see page 16).
Effective April 19, 2018 – McMurdo Fleet Management Activity Report (declarations) v18 and
Reports (forms) v15
4. Activity Declaration. For every trip, begin by clicking on the button directly below ‘Create Msg’
at the bottom of the EDU screen. Enter the 2-digit macro number of your intended activity:
Macro
14
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24

Vessel Activity Report
Version 18.0
Version 18.6
Version 18.7
Version 18.8
Version 18.9
Version 18.1
Version 18.2
Version 18.3
Version 18.4
Version 18.5

Declaration
Notes (explanatory notes for macros 20, 21 & 22)
Surfclam; Ocean Quahog
Herring
Mackerel
Squid
Multispecies Sector
Multispecies Common Pool
Monkfish
Scallop
Declare Out of Fishery; Power Down In Port

Table 2 – Vessel Activity Report (Declaration) Macros
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The macro form will be shown on your screen. Read each line carefully and enter the information
asked for in each required field (and any appropriate optional fields). For macros 20, 21 and 22, be
sure to read the associated notes in macro 14. Use the up and down arrow keys to scroll up/down the
macro page, and use the ‘Enter’ key to scroll across a line. Place an ‘X’ in the appropriate fields for
your intended activity. Once you are satisfied that the information entered is correct, click on the
button directly below ‘Send’ at the bottom of the screen. This action sends your activity declaration
to NMFS via McMurdo Fleet Management for your intended trip (see two exceptions below). The
screen will ask you to confirm sending by hitting the ‘Y’ key. The screen will then indicate that your
declaration message has been ‘queued for delivery’.
The logic that verifies whether you sent a ‘valid’ declaration occurs at the McMurdo Fleet
Management Operations Center (‘valid’ means NMFS regulations allow your chosen combination of
gear, DAS, area(s), broad stock area(s), etc.). You will receive an acknowledgment e-mail from
McMurdo Fleet Management which is indicated by the ‘Message Waiting’ light illuminated in red.
Click on the button directly below ‘Read Next’ at the bottom of the screen to view the message. The
acknowledgment from McMurdo Fleet Management will be either an acceptance or rejection
message. An acceptance indicates that your declaration was valid and forwarded on to NMFS. A
rejection indicates that your declaration was sent incorrectly and could not be forwarded on to
NMFS. The rejection will provide you a brief description of your error(s); you must send a new
declaration until an acceptance is received.
When selecting areas and broad stock areas to fish, Charts 1-5 on pages 7-8 may be useful.
Attachment 1 provides you with screen views and guidance for each of the McMurdo Fleet
Management declarations and forms macros. Please familiarize yourself with the declaration macros
before reading on (please note the ‘steps’ in many of the declaration screens). Paragraphs 5 and 6
below provide guidance on sending a declaration for ‘Declare Out of Fishery’ (DOF) trips and
‘Monkfish Option’ trips.
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 9 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 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.

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Charts 1-5 depict various areas for Multispecies and Monkfish declaration reporting. These charts
are not to be used for the depiction of closed areas.

Chart 1 – Statistical, Broad Stock, US/Canada, SAP & Monkfish Areas
Note - Areas shown below are depicted by heavy black borders.

Chart 2 - Eastern US/Canada Area
50 CFR 648.85(a)

Chart 3 - Western US/Canada Area
50 CFR 648.85(a)

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Chart 4 - CA-2 Yellowtail/Flounder Haddock SAP

Chart 5 - Eastern US/Canada Haddock SAP

50 CFR 648.85(b)

50 CFR 648.85(b)

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 or DOF declaration at the top of Macro 24.
There are six (6) 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).

•

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).

•

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).
(Note: The McMurdo unit is not approved for use in the NAFO fishery)
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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 in Step 1. 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) in the 2nd to last character. To declare the option, go to the
appropriate multispecies sector (Macro 20) or common pool (Macro 21) declaration screen, then
read the text in Step 1 and enter an ‘X’ in the field to the left of ‘Yes’.
7. Declaration Code. When received and accepted, your declaration is converted into a 12-character
VMS code (format: XXX-XXX-XXXXXX) by McMurdo Fleet Management and transmitted to
NMFS. Your acknowledgment message will report the code back to you with a brief description.
Check the code and description to be sure they accurately reflect your intended activity. If not, you
may always resend a declaration before leaving port.
8. Declaration Acknowledgment. Regulations require that you send an accurate declaration;
therefore, you are encouraged to await an acknowledgment. An ‘acceptance’ acknowledgment 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.
9. Required VMS Reports. Your VMS software also includes several required forms (reports)
macros. 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 macros is in Table 3 below. See Attachment 1 to view these forms.
Macro
36

49

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.

Table 3 – 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
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
9

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. While away from the dock or mooring, your vessel’s VMS unit must be
operational by sending automatic position reports and 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.
To determine if your McMurdo VMS is positioning normally and sending required position reports
to NMFS, there is a light indicator labeled ‘No Signal’ to the right of the screen. If an amber-colored
light is illuminated, the unit is not positioning. An alternate means to check is to press the ‘View
Status’ button (left side of EDU) and ‘down arrow’ once to check the ‘M0’ value. The M0 value will
have a ‘positive’ number if ‘the unit is positioning (the higher the better, but the average in the
Northeast is between 13 and 18). A final means is to call McMurdo Fleet Management 24-hour
Client Care (see page 16) to verify positioning data, or send an e-mail request to
support@boatracs.com from the VMS unit. E-mail is delivered by a different satellite system; if
there is a problem with positioning, e-mail capability may still be available.
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 that it is positioning
normally. If your VMS unit stops functioning (positioning and/or messaging) and you are unable to
restore normal operation, you are required to terminate your trip and return to port. 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):
From: nmfs.ole.ne@noaa.gov
To:
(vessel’s VMS unit e-mail address)
Subject: F/V (name) - Trip Start
Trip Start:
2014-03-01 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.
10

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:
2014-03-01 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. Go to ‘Contact Information’ on the VMS web page and see ‘VMS
Courtesy Messaging’. 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, you should 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. 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. A listing of ports and their OLE-defined
geographic location is available on the VMS web page.
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 and 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.
11

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.
The flex option is addressed in Macro #14 (Notes #2 and #4) and also in Macro #20 (Step 4). 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:
•
•
•

For Steps 1-3. Choose the same selections you made in port.
For Step 4.
Choose the same program areas that you made in port, and then choose
additional areas you want to fish.
For Step 5.
Choose the same broad stock areas (BSAs) that you made in port, and, if
appropriate, choose any additional BSAs that you want to fish. Be sure that
you select BSAs that encompass the program area(s) that you chose in step 4.

b. ‘Flipping’ the Multispecies Day-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:
•
•
•

Steps 1-2.
Step 3.
Step 4-5.

Choose the same selections you made in port.
Choose ‘Mults A-DAS’.
Choose the same selections you made in port.

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:
•
•
•
•

Step 1.
Step 2.
Step 3.
Step 4-5.

Choose the same selection you made in port.
Choose both Monkfish and Mults DAS.
Choose ‘NFMA’.
Choose the same selections you made in port.

Your new Monkfish declaration will retain the trip modifier ‘M’ (for Monkfish Option) 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 Macro 20 (Sector) and Macro 21 (Common Pool)
Multispecies declaration screens, with corresponding notes on Macro 14.
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 4 below. See Attachment 1 to view these forms and specific reporting
instructions.

12

Macro
35

VMS Form
Multispecies
Catch Report

37

Multispecies
Trip End Hail

40

Monkfish Trip
Limit Overage
DAS
Adjustment

Those vessels on monkfish-declared trips that exceed their
DAS charge, before crossing the VMS demarcation line on
return to port.

41

Scallop Daily
Catch Report

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 pre-landing notification.

42

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):

45

Herring Daily
Catch Report

46

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

47

48

50

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.
Refer to the flow chart in Attachment 3 for guidance.
All vessels on groundfish-declared trips at least 6 hours
before arrival.

(1) All vessels on a declared 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) On a declared limited access scallop access area trip;
(4) Declaring out of the limited access scallop day-at-sea
fishery to transit to a port south of 39 degrees North with
scallops onboard.
All vessels on a declared herring trip by 9 am daily.

All vessels on a declared herring trip at least 6 hours before
arrival.
All vessels on a declared mackerel or squid trip by 9 am
daily.
All vessels on mackerel-declared trips when the landing will
exceed 20,000 lbs at least 6 hours before arrival.
All vessels at least 6 hours before arrival as required by their
NMFS RSA or EFP Letter of Authorization).

Purpose
To report VTR and
estimated weights prior to
landing.

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.

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

Table 4 – 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
13

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.
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. Mail or fax 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.
14

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:
FAX Number:
Hours:

Name
Bill Semrau
Carol Bleszinski

Position
VMS Program
Manager
VMS
Technician

Carl Lemire

VMS
Technician

Samantha Tolken

VMS
Technician

Philip Corcoran

VMS
Programmer

(978) 281-9213 (follow call prompts)
(978) 281-9317
7:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday through Friday
Responsibility
Overall management of the Northeast VMS
Program
Herring, Mackerel & Squid Reporting; VMS
Training; VMS Letters of Exemption (to Power
Down Inport); VMS Activations/ Deactivations
& Welcome Letters
Scallop, Surfclam, Ocean Quahog, Maine
Mahogany Quahog & NAFO Reporting; VMS
Training
Multispecies & Monkfish Reporting; VMS
Letters of Exemption (to Power Down Inport);
NAFO Reporting; VMS Training
VMS Server, scripts, reports and data analysis

Contact Info
William.Semrau@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9151
Carol.Bleszinski@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9239

Carl.Lemire@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9274
Samantha.Tolken@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9230
Philip.Corcoran@noaa.gov
(978) 281-9309

Table 5 – 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.
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. 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 purchased and installed a VMS unit to
comply with the following regulatory actions may be eligible for reimbursement of their purchase
cost up to $3,100 as long as funds are available:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Scallop Framework Adjustment 17
Multispecies Framework Adjustment 42 and Amendment 16
Surfclam/Ocean Quahog Framework 1
Scallop Amendment 11
Herring Amendment 5
Squid, Mackerel, Butterfish Amendment 14 and 16
SkyMate ST-2500G and CLS TST type approval non-renewals effective September 30, 2015
15

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:

Boston, MA
Maine through Connecticut
(617) 565-1800

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. McMurdo Fleet Management may be reached at:
•
•
•
•
•

Address:
Phone:
Email:
Call Center:
Web Address:

11610 Iberia Place, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92128
1-800-262-8722
support@boatracs.com
24/7 for technical support
http://www.mcmurdogroup.com/

Attachments: (1) McMurdo Vessel Activity Reports (Declarations) v18 and Reports (Forms) v15
(2) How to ‘Confirm the Use of a Previous VMS Code’
(3) Groundfish Catch Reporting Requirements

16

CHANGE LOG
DATE
18 Mar 2014
10 Apr 2014

11 Jun 2014

30 Jun 2014

1 Sep 2014

15 Sep 2014
1 May 2015

30 Jun 2015

26 Aug 2015
28 Mar 2016

CHANGES
Redrafted to comply with the VMS software upgrade effective this date.
Attachment 1. Page 25. Multispecies Catch Report, Macro #35. Clarified the groundfish
sector reporting requirement by adding the following highlighted instruction text: “Important
– Sector vessels are only required to submit a trip-level catch report (daily report is not
required).”
Page 2, Table of Contents. Added two new subsections under “VMS Declaration”.
Page 15. Table 5. The VMS Team contact name and responsibility sections have been
updated to reflect personnel changes.
Attachment 2. Added new attachment to provide instructions for “Confirming the Use of a
Previous VMS Code.”
Attachment 1. Page 25. Multispecies Catch Report, Macro #35. Changed reporting
instruction by stating that sector vessels must now submit a daily catch report when declared
into the Eastern US/CA Area, Eastern US/Canada Haddock SAP, and/or CA-2 Yellowtail/
Flounder Haddock SAP.
Page 1. Updated the VMS web address and inserted a newer GARFO website picture.
Various pages. Removed references to a September 1, 2014 VMS compliance date for the
longfin squid and mackerel fisheries.
Page 11. Changed the times for the sending of trip start and trip end notification messages to
4 and 6-8 hours, respectively.
Page 14, Table 4. Inserted text in the “Purpose” column for macros 47 and 48.
Page 15. Replaced Tyler Requejo with Robert Bollmann on NE VMS Team Contact List.
Page 4, Table 1. Removed the power down declaration (exemption) text from Multispecies
Sector vessel reporting.
Page 9, Table 3. Entered text that Macros 38 and 44 are no longer required to be sent.
Pages 13 and 14. Revised the text in the ‘Must be Sent By” column for Macros 35, 41, 42,
45, 47, 48 and 50.
Page 16, Table 5. Replaced Robert Bollmann with Carl Lemire. Added Aimee Ahles.
Updated technician responsibilities.
Pages 24-26, and 28-33. Added a “Note” regarding regulatory actions and revised the
declaration or form instructions. Removed forms and instructions for Macros #38, #43 and
#44 on pages 28 and 31.
Page 5. Updated the declaration/forms macro version numbers for the new software upgrade.
Page 8. Removed the DOF - Transit declaration, and added 2 new declarations of DOF Transit with product and without product.
Page 9. Table 3. Removed the Scallop Compensation Trip form.
Pages 13-14. Table 4. Updated various reporting instructions and removed the Common
Pool GOM Cod Trip Limit Exemption form.
Page 16. Added the SkyMate and CLS unit non-renewals to the list of eligible
reimbursement actions.
Attachment 1. Replaced all declaration and form macros with current versions, and updated
the reporting requirements.
Various Pages. Boatracs name change to “McMurdo Fleet Management”. Boatracs
FMCT/G VMS name change to “McMurdo FMCT/G (Formerly Boatracs)”.
Page 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.
Pages 26-27. The changes on Page 13 were also reflected in the Marco #35 instructions.

17

DATE
12 Jun 2017

23 Oct 2017

17 Apr 2018

CHANGES
Page 1. New effective date – June 15, 2017.
Page 3. New macros version numbers and a new attachment 3.
Page 4. Added ‘Note 1’ to LAGC Scallop ‘Exceptions’. Added Illex Squid requirement.
Added text regarding sector exemptions.
Page 5. Updated Vessel Activity Report numbers in Table 2.
Page 8. Added gear text to DOF-CML paragraph.
Page 9. Macro 36 - Clarified text in ‘Must be Sent By” block.
Page 13. Macro 35 - Revised text in ‘Must be Sent By” block. Macro 40 – Added “by one
limit” in “Purpose” block. Macros 41,42,47,48 – Text changes to “Must be Sent By” block.
Page 14. 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 15. 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 macro version numbers for Activity Reports and

Forms.
Page 7. 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. 13. Macro 41. Added text about single-day trips.
Pg. 15. Table 5. Added Samantha Tolken and updated responsibilities lists.
Pg. 16. Updated main phone number for the OLE D1 office.
Attachment 1. All macro screen views now show the latest form layout for Declarations v18
and Forms v15.
Pg. 20. Surfclam and Ocean Quahog Declaration. Revised screen to reflect new scallop
access area selections.
Pg. 21. Squid Declaration. Revised screen. Revised instructions to allow selection of a
combination longfin and illex trip.
Pg. 24. Scallop Declaration. Revised screen. Revised instructions to allow selection of new
and access areas and limited access NGOM RSA trip.
Pg 26. Multispecies Catch Report. Added text to the Step 5 instructions.
Pg. 29. Scallop Daily Catch Report. Revised screen to include text regarding single-day
trips.

18

ATTACHMENT 1
McMurdo Fleet Management
Vessel Activity Reports (Declarations) v18 and Reports (Forms) v15
Declaration Macros. Once you select the appropriate macro to make your declaration and fill in all
required fields. The ‘Up’ or ‘Down’ arrow button moves the cursor up or down the macro page. The
‘Enter’ button moves the cursor to the right (for example, when there is more than one field on a
line). The ‘Up’ arrow button may also be used to move back to a previous field on that line. Unless
otherwise directed, place an ‘X’ in the appropriate fields, verify your selection, and then click the
‘Send’ button. The screen will ask you to confirm your selection by entering a ‘Y’ before sending.
Send your declaration and then review your acknowledgment message. Send another (correct)
declaration if you receive a rejection acknowledgment from McMurdo.
The following pages will show you each of the macros. Guidance for filling in the fields is shown in
the red boxes to the left and/or right of the form.
*** Note: When selecting an area or areas to fish in from the appropriate declaration macro,
be sure that the area(s) is open for your intended fishing activity. The areas shown on your
VMS declaration macros are entirely independent of any regulation or action by NMFS that
opens or closes an area.
Macro #14 – Notes:
This separate macro was
created because some of
the explanatory notes in
the declaration macros
could not fit due to macro
size restrictions.
In the declaration macro
views on the following
pages, there will be field
instructions that ask you
to review the appropriate
note (#1-5) in this macro.

19

Macro #16 – Surfclam and Ocean Quahog declaration:
Step 1. Select the type of
trip (only one).
Step 2. For ITQ trips,
enter an ‘X’ only if you
intend to fish the
‘Reopened Portion of the
Georges Bank PSP Area’
during your trip.
Step 3. Select an area, but
only if fishing in a scallop
access area and retaining
> 40 lb of scallops.

Macro #17 – Herring declaration:
Step 1. Herring carrier
has no gear capable of
catching fish. Enter an
‘X’ by either ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Use the ‘Enter’ key to
move across the row in
order to select ‘no’.
Select only one.

Step 3. Enter an ‘X’ by
either ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Step 4. Enter an ‘X’ by
‘yes’ only if you intend
to harvest herring RSA
quota. Otherwise,
select ‘no’.

Step 2. Enter an ‘X’ by
the gear you intend to
fish. Select ‘none’ if you
answered ‘yes’ in Step 1.
Select only one.

Macro #18 – Mackerel declaration:

Step 2. Only if you
answered ‘yes’ to step
1, enter an ‘X’ by the
gear you intend to fish.
Select only one.

Step 1. Enter an ‘X’ by
either ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Use
the ‘Enter’ key to move
across the row in order
to select ‘no’. Skip to
Step 3 if you do not
intend to retain herring.

Step 3. Enter an ‘X’ by
either ‘yes’ or ‘no’.
Select only one.

20

Macro #19 –Squid declaration:
Step 1. Enter an ‘X’ by
the species you intend to
target. Select one or
both.
Step 2. Enter an ‘X’ in
yes or no. Skip to Step 4
if you answered ‘no’ and
you do not intend to
retain herring.

Step 3. Select a gear
only if you answered
‘yes’ in Step 2.
Otherwise, leave blank.
Step 4. Enter an ‘X’ in
‘yes’ or ‘no’.

Macro #20 - Multispecies Sector declaration:
Note – For sector
vessel use only.
Step 1. First, read Note
#1 on Macro 14. Enter
an ‘X’ by ‘Yes’ only if you
may need to change
your declaration while in
the NE Fishery to a
monkfish trip.
Step 2. Place an ‘X’ by
the gear you intend to
fish. Use the ‘Enter’ key
to move across the row
in order to select ‘hook’
or ‘gillnet’. Select only
one.

Step 4. Place an ‘X’ by
each area you intend to
fish.

Step 3. Select either one
of the 3 choices, or
select mults A-DAS and
scallop DAS, as
appropriate.

To FLEX, reenter your
selections for steps 1-5
again, but select
additional area(s) and
broad stock area(s)
(BSA) in Steps 4 and 5,
respectively.
Step 5. Select the
Broad Stock Areas
(BSA) that encompass
the areas selected in
Step 4.

21

Macro #21 - Multispecies Common Pool declaration:
Note – For common pool
vessel use only.
Step 1. First, read Note #1
on Macro 14. Enter an ‘X’
by ‘Yes’ only if you may
need to change your
declaration while in the NE
Fishery to a monkfish trip.

Step 2. Place an ‘X’ by the
gear you intend to fish. Use
the ‘Enter’ key to move
across the row in order to
select ‘hook’ or ‘gillnet’.
Select only one.

Step 4. First, if you’re
at sea and will FLEX
(add areas to your
initial declaration)
read Note #2 on
Macro 14.

Step 3. Place an ‘X’ by the
appropriate Days at Sea
(DAS) for your trip. Your
choices are:

Place an ‘X’ by each
area you intend to
fish.

- multispecies (mults) A
- mults B-Regular
- mults B-Reserve
- mults A & Scallop
- mults B-Regular & scallop
- mults B-Reserve & scallop

To FLEX, reenter your
selections for Steps 15 again, but select
additional area(s) and
broad stock area(s)
(BSA) in Steps 4 and
5, respectively.

To FLIP (change from a BDAS to an A-DAS), reenter
your selections for Steps 1-2
and 4-5 again, but select
mults A in Step 3.

Step 5. Place an ‘X’
by the Broad Stock
Areas (BSA) that
encompass the
area(s) selected in
Step 4.

22

Macro #22 – Monkfish declaration:
Step 4. First, if you’re at
sea and will FLEX (add
areas to your initial
declaration) read Note
#4 on Macro 14.

Step 1. Place an ‘X’ by
the gear you intend to
fish. Use the ‘Enter’ key
to move across the row
in order to select ‘hook’
or ‘gillnet’. Select only
one.

Additionally, if
appropriate, select
multispecies (mults) DAS
and/or Scallop DAS.

Place an ‘X’ by each
area you intend to fish.
If you selected only
Monkfish DAS in Step
2, then select
‘Monkfish-Only’ (for
CAT F vessels, select
‘Monkfish Offshore
Area’). If you selected
Mults DAS in Step 2,
you must select
appropriate mults areas
here.

Step 3. First, if you’re at
sea and changing your
multispecies declaration
to a monkfish
declaration, read Note
#3 on Macro 14.

To FLEX, reenter your
selections for steps 1-5
again, but select
additional area(s) and
broad stock area(s)
(BSA) in Steps 4 and 5,
respectively.

Step 2. Unless this is a
Monkfish RSA trip,
always select at least
Monkfish DAS.

Place an ‘X’ in 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.”

Step 5. First, if you
have an allocated mults
DAS balance, read
Note #5 on Macro 14.
Select those BSAs that
encompass the areas
selected in Step 4.
However, select
‘Monkfish-Only’ if you
are not using
Multispecies DAS.

23

Macro #23 - Scallop declaration:

For LAGC scallop trips:
In Step 1, select an area
from 1A, B or C.
In Step 2, select a gear.
Use the ‘Enter’ key to
move across the row in
order to select ‘trawl’.
In Step 3, select yes or
no to the RSA question.
Then, send your
declaration.

or
For Limited Access
scallop trips:
In Step 1, select an area
from 1A, B, C or D.
In Step 2, select yes or
no to the RSA question.
Note: If you selected 1.D.
(Northern Gulf of Maine
RSA trip), you must
select yes in Step 2.
Then, send your
declaration.

24

Macro #24 –Declare Out of Fishery & Power Down declarations:
Declare Out of Fishery:
Select only one of the 6
choices.
Please note:
Fishing – Commercial.
You must also select a gear.
Transit. There are two
choices. Vessels authorized
to transit ‘with product
onboard’ should declare
[DOF-TSP].
NAFO. DO NOT USE.

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.

25

Form Macros. The following pages display all VMS forms or reports, and instructions (red boxes)
for completing them. Remember - Use the ‘Up’ or ‘Down’ arrow button to move the cursor up or
down the macro page. Use the ‘Enter’ button to move the cursor to the right (for example, when
there is more than one field on a line). The ‘Up’ arrow button may also be used to move back to a
previous field on that line. Enter the information into the appropriate fields, verify your selections,
and then click the ‘Send’ button. The screen will ask you to confirm your selection by entering a ‘Y’
before sending.
***You will receive a rejection message from McMurdo Fleet Management if you enter invalid
information in any field. If so, simply send a new report while being sure to send the correct
information. Contact the VMS Team if you need assistance.
Macro #35 - Multispecies Catch Report:
All catch reports must
contain at least the
operator’s permit number
and VTR number.
Refer to Attachment 3 on
Page 35 for guidance on
when to send this report.
Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.
Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8
digit VTR, or 14-digit eVTR number.
Step 3. Enter the 2-digit
month, day and year of the
reported catch. Use the
‘Enter’ key to move the
cursor to the next field to
the right.

Step 4. First, enter the 3digit statistical (stat) area
where the species kept
was harvested (you may
enter up to 4 different stat
areas on a single catch
report).
Next, below each stat area
enter the estimated weight
of each species kept (up to
6 digits). Finally, be sure to
enter the total amount of
NON-groundfish kept for
each stat area.
Step 5. Enter a ‘Y’ in the
box only if immediately
switching to smaller mesh.
During the remainder of
your trip, you do not need
to reselect this box.

26

Macro #36 - 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 eVTR number.
Step 3. Enter ‘Y’ for ‘yes’
if you will be taking a
NMFS observer or at-sea
monitor onboard this trip.
Otherwise, enter ‘N’ for
‘no’.

Steps 8. Enter the 2digit month, day, year,
hour (24-hour clock)
and minute of your
estimated return to
port. Use the ‘Enter’
key to move the
cursor to the next
field to the right.

Steps 4 & 5. Enter an ‘X’
by all appropriate
exemptions and/or
provisions to be fished
under for this trip.

Step 9. See the ‘Note’
to determine if you
must enter the
estimated offload
date/time.

Steps 6 & 7. Enter the
name of the city
(characters A-Z only) and
enter the 2-character
state (postal
abbreviation) where the
catch will be landed.

If so, enter the 2-digit
month, day, year, hour
(24-hour clock) and
minute of your
estimated offload.
Step 10. Optional
field. NMFS may
provide instructions for
use from time-to-time.

27

Macro #37 - Multispecies Trip END Hail:
The trip end hail is
required on all
groundfish trips by
sector and common pool
vessels.

Steps 6 & 7. Enter the 2digit month, day, year,
hour (24-hour clock) and
minute of your estimated
return to port and
offload. Do not enter all
zeroes in the offload
field. Use the ‘Enter’
key to move the cursor
to the next field to the

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.
Step 2. Enter your 7 or
8-digit VTR, or 14-digit
e-VTR number.

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

Steps 3 & 4. Enter the
name of the city
(characters A-Z only)
and enter the 2character state (postal
abbreviation) where the
catch will be landed.

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

Step 5. Enter the dealer
or offload location (up to
25 alphanumeric
characters).

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

Macro #40 - Monkfish Trip Limit Overage Days at Sea Adjustment:

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.
Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit eVTR number.
Step 3. Enter the 2-digit
month, day and year of
your estimated return to
port. Use the ‘Enter’ key
to move the cursor to
the next field to the
right.

28

Macro #41 - Scallop Daily Catch Report:
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 4. Enter scallops
kept only. Enter up to 6
digits.

Step 3. Enter the 2-digit
month, day and year of the
reported catch. Use the
‘Enter’ key to move the
cursor to the next field to
the right.

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

Macro #42 - Scallop Pre-Landing Notification:

Step 5. Enter ‘Y’ or ‘N’ to
indicate whether any
scallops to be landed were
harvested from the
Northern Gulf of Maine
Management Area.

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.
Step 2. Enter ‘Y’ for ‘yes’ only
if you need to make a
correction to a report that you
had previously sent, and also
enter the date of that report
in 2-digit month, day and
year. Use the ‘Enter’ key to
move the cursor to the next
field to the right.

Step 6. If only landing
meats, enter the estimated
weight in that field only. If
only landing bushels inshell, enter the estimated
bushels in that field only. If
landing both meats and
bushels, enter the
estimates in each field.

Otherwise, enter ‘N’ for ‘no’
and leave the prior report
date field blank.

Step 7. Enter ‘All Other
Fish Kept’ (excluding
scallops). Enter up to 6
digits.

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

Step 8. Enter the 2-digit
month, day, year, hour (24hour clock) and minute of
your estimated return to
port.

Step 4. Enter ‘Y’ for ‘yes’ if
you intend to land any
scallops, and then complete
steps 5-10.

Steps 9 & 10. Enter the
name of the city
(characters A-Z only) and
enter the 2-character state
(postal abbreviation) where
the catch will be landed.

Otherwise, enter ‘N’ for ‘no’,
and then send the form.

29

Macro #45 - Herring Daily Catch Report:
Step 5. Answer this
question only if an
observer is onboard. Enter
‘Y’ for ‘yes’ if you had a
slippage event for this
reported period and also
select the reason. If you
select ‘Other’, briefly
provide the reason.
Otherwise, enter an ‘N’ for
‘no’ if no slippage event
occurred.

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. Enter the 2-digit
month, day and year of the
reported catch. Use the
‘Enter’ key to move the
cursor to the next field to
the right.

Step 6. If you are using
mid-water or bottom trawl
gear then enter a ‘Y’.
Otherwise, enter an ‘N’
and then send the
message.

Step 4. You must fill in both
‘kept’ and ‘discarded’ for at
least one of the areas. Enter
up to 7 digits in each field, as
appropriate.

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

Macro #46 - Herring Pre-Landing Notification:
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. Enter the 2-digit
month, day, year, hour (24hour clock) and minute of
your estimated return to port.
Use the ‘Enter’ key to move
the cursor to the next field
to the right.

Steps 4 & 5. Enter the
name of the city
(characters A-Z only) and
enter the 2-character state
(postal abbreviation)
where the catch will be
landed.

30

Macro #47 - Mackerel and Squid Daily Catch Report:

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.

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

Step 6. Answer this
question only if an observer
is onboard. Enter ‘Y’ for
‘yes’ if you had a slippage
event for this reported
period and also select the
reason. If you select
‘Other’, briefly provide the
reason. Otherwise, enter
an ‘N’ for ‘no’ if no slippage
event occurred.

Step 2. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit e-VTR
number.
Step 3. Enter the 2-digit
month, day and year of the
reported catch. Use the
‘Enter’ key to move the
cursor to the next field to
the right.

Macro #48 - Mackerel Pre-Landing Notification:
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. Enter the 2-digit
month, day, year, hour (24hour clock) and minute of
your estimated return to port.
Use the ‘Enter’ key to move
the cursor to the next field
to the right.

Steps 4 & 5. Enter the
name of the city (characters
A-Z only) and enter the 2character state (postal
abbreviation) where the
catch will be landed.

31

Macro #49 - RSA and EFP Trip START Hail:
The specific reporting
requirements will be stated in
the NMFS permit that
authorizes the compensation
fishing or experimental fishing
activity.

Steps 4 & 5. Enter the 3digit port code and enter
the 2-character state
(postal abbreviation)
where the catch will be
landed.

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

Step 6. Enter the 2-digit
month, day, year, hour (24hour clock) and minute of
your estimated return to
port. Use the ‘Enter’ key
to move the cursor to the
next field to the right.

Step 2. Enter the 5-digit
project code from your permit.
Step 3. Enter your 7 or 8-digit
VTR, or 14-digit e-VTR
number.

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

Macro #50 - RSA and EFP Trip END Hail:
The specific reporting
requirements will be
stated in the NMFS permit
that authorizes the
compensation fishing or
experimental fishing
activity.

Steps 6 & 7. Enter the 3digit port code and enter
the 2-character state
(postal abbreviation)
where the catch will be
landed.

Step 1. Enter your 8-digit
operator permit number.
Step 2. Enter the 5-digit
project code from your
permit.

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

Step 3. Enter your 7 or 8digit VTR, or 14-digit eVTR number.
Steps 4 & 5. Enter the 2digit month, day, year,
hour (24-hour clock) and
minute of your estimated
return to port and offload.
Do not enter all zeroes in
the offload field. Use the
‘Enter’ key to move the
cursor to the next field
to the right.

Step 9. Enter a ‘Y’ if you
intend to land both your
commercial and RSA
allocation. Otherwise,
enter an ‘N’ for RSA
allocation only.
Step 10. Optional field.
NMFS may provide
instructions for use from
time-to-time.

32

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.

33

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.

34

ATTACHMENT 3

35