Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program

Contact Information

• Customer Support Toll Free: 1-833-707-1632
• Customer Support Email:  ser.electronicreporting@noaa.gov

Background

The Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting (SEFHIER) program implements electronic reporting of for-hire vessel catch data for nearly 2,000 vessels in the South Atlantic.  The purpose of this program is to provide more accurate and reliable fisheries information about for-hire catch, effort, and discards.  Fishermen provide data that are critical to population assessments and better fisheries management.  Electronic reporting can also provide more timely, accurate, and reliable information for species that have low catches, small annual catch limits, or are rarely encountered. 

The links below provide information on the program and how to remain in compliance with the requirements.  We recommend you review the links below and reach out to us directly with questions.

• Additional Information
  • Summary Report on the Quality Management Workshop for the For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Requirements in the Southeast Region
  • Southeast Region For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Development Plan 2019
• If you missed the public webinars for South Atlantic participants, you can request a recording of the webinar from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• General Program Requirements
• Court of Appeals Decision on the Gulf of Mexico Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program Laws
• General Reporting Requirements
• Electronic Logbook Questions
• General Permit-Related Questions
• Vessels with Permits Across NOAA Fisheries Regions or With the State of South Carolina

• Technical Questions Regarding the Approved Reporting Software 

News and Announcements

• FB23-088: The NOAA Fisheries Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program (SEFHIER) End-Of-Year Update

• Reminders about Reporting Requirements for Vessels with Commercial and Federal For-Hire Permits

• On February 23, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit set aside the final rule implementing the Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf).  This means the Gulf program is currently not in effect.  The ruling does not affect the South Atlantic SEFHIER program. 

• NOAA Fisheries Update: Court of Appeals Decision on the Gulf of Mexico Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program Lawsuit

Guides and Tools

If you are just getting started, the informational videos and toolkits are a great way to get introduced to the program and requirements.  Fishery Bulletins allow you to stay up to date with the SEFHIER program.  Please sign up at the link below to have Fishery Bulletins emailed to you.  Instructional videos for both software reporting applications are also available, as well as links to the applications' support pages.

• Informational Videos
  • Video 1:  Introduction to the Southeast For Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program Requirements
  • Video 2:  Getting Started with Electronic Reporting
• Informational Toolkit: explains the requirements and details for the program, and answers some frequently asked questions
• Compliance Guide: a compact, travel friendly guide for staying in compliance with the SEFHIER program
• Fishery Bulletins
• Multiple Permits Information
• eTrips support page: User Instructions
• VESL support page: Bluefin Data Help Center
   

Information for Gulf of Mexico Permit Holders

(If you have both South Atlantic and Gulf federal for-hire permits, you must follow the South Atlantic reporting requirements.)

• On February 23, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit set aside the final rule implementing the Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program in the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf).  This means the Gulf program is currently not in effect.  The ruling does not affect the South Atlantic SEFHIER program. 
• NOAA Fisheries Update: Court of Appeals Decision on the Gulf of Mexico Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting Program Lawsuit

Information for South Atlantic Permit Holders

• South Atlantic Proposed and Final Rule, and Fishery Bulletins
• Informational Toolkit
• Multiple Permits Information
• Approved Software 

Information for Vendors

This page provides documents about the requirements and specifications to be an approved software or hardware vendor for the South Atlantic Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting program.