Fisheries and Oceans Canada Electronic Reporting Initiatives

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has been transmitting data from source, at sea, since 1998. In recent years the department has been exploring technology applications to enhance the speed, accuracy and user friendliness of this data capture approach. This work has led to the development of the Pacific electronic logbook (E-Log) initiative that will significantly enhance the efficient and cost effective collection of catch reporting information for Commercial, Recreational and First Nations fisheries.

E-Log has proven itself to be a highly efficient technology for reducing DFO data management and input costs.  Elog reduces errors related to the re-input of data from fisher’s paper logs, significantly improves data accessibility for the department (i.e. moving from data lags of up to months with paper logs, to real or near real time with Elog).  DFO data entry costs for the department are avoided with Elog as the data entry is one time and by the client.

Collectively these improvements have lead to an improved ability for the department to manage in the fisheries Elog currently supports. Particularly, the department’s ability to provide effective in-season management including compliance and position reporting of vessels has been significantly improved through the use of Elog technology.

Initial challenges related to Elog data transmission have been successfully overcome and Elog can now transmit data to any location using: Iridium satellite modem, Orbcomm satellite modem, satellite telephone, cellular telephone and USB Internet devices. Transmission of comma delimited text has been chosen as the most cost efficient method of data transfer, particularly when employing satellite modem technology.   

Initial security challenges around the transmission of personal fisher data have been overcome through the application of sophisticated encryption technology.  The use of this technology supporting Elog will ensure that fisher personal data is protected and cannot be accessed by any unauthorized parties.