Background

The partners of the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) created SAFIS to meet the increasing need for real-time landings data. The state of Rhode Island first adopted SAFIS in February 2003 after several months of discussion and testing with a panel of dealers who would be using it. SAFIS was then adopted by Maryland for landings data and quota monitoring of important finfish and shellfish species. NOAA Fisheries Northeast Region launched SAFIS for federally permitted seafood dealers in May 2004. New Hampshire is making SAFIS available to state-permitted dealers in 2005. Work continues to accommodate data from state-permitted dealers in Connecticut, New York, Maine, and Massachusetts.

Benefits To The Industry

1. SAFIS can inform industry users of changes in a fishery, such as quota updates, as they log-in.

2. SAFIS allows fishermen and dealers to view their own data-of-record with confidential access, protecting personal information.

3. SAFIS provides seafood dealers and fishermen an online form that satisfies multiple state and federal reporting requirements, and dealers have the option to upload electronic files in lieu of data entry.