AFMA hits additional fisheries with mandatory data logging

Australian operators catching gummy shark, pink ling and blue eye trevalla in Australia’s gillnet hook and trap (GHAT) fishery, are now required to start logging their fisheries data electronically.

The GHAT sector lands catch worth about $18 million annually. AFMA CEO, Dr James Findlay, said moving to electronic-logs would streamline the collection of commercial catch data.

“Fishers have been looking for cost savings and the move to e-logs will see a significant reduction in the time and cost involved with the old paper-based logbooks,” Dr Findlay said.

“The e-logs software can be integrated with on-board plotter location systems and fleet management software for vessels that have the systems already installed assist with quicker and better data quality.

“AFMA is looking to enable data collection systems to be further integrated with other on-board systems in the future, such as the vessel monitoring system, which tracks speed, course and location, and the e-monitoring system that records video of fishing activity.”

Fishers in the South East Trawl, and the Great Australian Bight Trawl and most of the operators in the Northern Prawn Fishery are already using e-logs, while the Antarctic fisheries are using another electronic reporting system.

“We are working towards having all Commonwealth fisheries using e-logs by January 1, 2019, to reduce red tape for industry and improve fisheries management.”