Commercial fishermen in the United States now have access to a free app that simplifies mandatory harvest reporting for both state and federally licensed fishermen.
Developed by technology company Bluefin Data under a contract with the Maine Department of Marine Resources, the VESL app has been developed in response to the increase in the number of lobster harvesters who must submit reports.
Currently only 10% percent of state licensed lobster harvesters in Maine must report their harvest. This will rise to 100% next year as part of an update to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission fishery management plan.
“We decided to develop a new app to make it easier for lobstermen to comply with the new reporting requirement,” said Maine Department of Marine Resource Commissioner, Patrick Keliher.
“Better data about fishing activity will help managers sustain Maine’s important marine resources and will help ensure informed decisions are made around issues that impact fishermen like whale regulations and offshore wind development,” he added.
The app is suitable for use in any fisheries that require reports and can be customised based on licence, permits and gear type used. Data can be entered while at sea and uploaded when internet connection is made, making reporting straightforward and accurate.
The app has been approved by the NOAA and is compatible with tablets and smartphones, both iOS and Android.
