The use of an electronic logbook (ELOG) will be mandatory in 2025. This requirement applies to all commercial and commercial communal fish harvesters fishing snow crab in Crab Fishing Areas 12 (18, 25, 26), 12E, 12F and 19. The use of paper logbooks will no longer be accepted.
This newsletter will be used to provide information on the use of ELOG for snow crab licence holders in the Gulf Region, when required. All information will be kept on the same document, with the most recent updates in the top portion of the newsletter. The document will be shared through the following methods:
- to all snow crab licence holders through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS)
- by email to stakeholder representatives
- on the Gulf Region website : Notice to Fish Harvesters - General Notices
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.
NEW UPDATE - April 24, 2025
Reminder to complete mandatory sections in ELOGs
As indicated in licence conditions, licence holders/operators must maintain an accurate record of their daily fishing activities and catches in their ELOG for each fishing trip and must ensure that the data groups are completed and the trip closed (with confirmation that the data groups are final) PRIOR to arriving to port, even if the catch is zero (0).
While recording fishing data in the ELOG, Gulf Region harvesters must ensure to complete all the mandatory sections, including the following:
- Vessel Registration Number (VRN) and Fisher Identification Number (FIN) - ensure that these numbers are attached to the licence number used in the Fishing Effort section.
- Bait Used section
- Species at Risk section
- Fishing Effort and Effort Details sections - ensure that these sections include the licence number in the correct format (6-digit number with leading 0s if required)
- Catch section - even if no catch
- Landing section - each daily ELOG must have only one completed Landing section
- Hail-in and Hail-out sections
April 3, 2025
Hail-out requirement - Company who issued the hail-out confirmation number :
- The name of the company who issues hail-out number to licence holders in the Gulf Region is: Answer 365 (HMC Communications inc.).
- The company Answer 365 (HMC Communications inc.) is currently not available as an option in the ELOG, but the Department is working with suppliers to make that option available.
- Until this issue is resolved, licence holders should choose the option: DFO Maritimes – Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) system.
First trip of the season :
- Licence holders are required to enter information in their ELOG on the first trip of the season, when setting their traps. If returning to port with no catch on the first day, please take note of the following:
- Immersion time: If the application does not permit zero ‘’0’’ as an option, please indicate one ‘’1’’ hour for immersion time.
- Number of gear hauled: If the application does not permit zero ‘’0’’ as an option, please indicate one ‘’1’’ for number of traps hauled.