Moncton, New Brunswick – October 17, 2024 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Gulf Region, announces that effective in 2025, the use of electronic logbooks (ELOGs) will be mandatory for harvesters who hold a licence issued by the Gulf Region to fish snow crab and lobster in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence. This requirement applies to all commercial and commercial communal harvesters fishing:
- snow crab in Crab Fishing Areas 12 (18, 25, 26), 12E, 12F and 19, and
- lobster in Lobster Fishing Areas 23, 24, 25 and 26.
DFO has a mandate to collect data to effectively manage Canada’s fisheries resources. Harvesters are required by licence to report their fishing activities to the Department. Using ELOGs will streamline catch reporting for harvesters, making it faster and more efficient. For more information on ELOGs, please visit: Electronic logbooks (ELOGS).
Harvesters must download an ELOG application from an approved developer: Qualified electronic logbooks (ELOG) client applications.
The national implementation of ELOGs will proceed in a phased approach, advancing as fisheries are ready to do so. This phased national approach ensures that all fisheries are covered by an ELOG application and that ELOG options are available for harvesters to choose from.
Harvesters who have already voluntarily opted to use an ELOG application for other species may continue to do so under the following conditions:
- a qualified ELOG application exists; and
- licence conditions authorize the voluntary use of ELOGs for a given fishery.
DFO remains committed to working with industry as we continue to improve and enhance our catch reporting services.
For any additional questions regarding the National ELOG program, please contact DFO at 1-877-535-7307 or at the following email: fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.