December 2010 Newsletter

The December issue of the Olfish newsletter will review some of the major developments in international electronic logbook technology which have occurred this year and highlight some of the ways in which Olfish has participated in them.

Our products section will provide a sneak-preview into the Olfish-DDL Lite, an adaptation of Olfish-DDL with simplified features. The Olfish-in-action section will focus on the certification and use of Olfish in Holland. Under Olfish-Live you will find a list of events in which demonstrations or presentations on Olfish will be given in the future.

For any comments regarding content, business collaboration or product purchases please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . For more general information about Olfish, please visit our website at www.olfish.com.

We hope you find this newsletter interesting and informative!

The Olfish Team

1. Introducing Olfish-DDL Lite is an easy-to-use, condensed version of Olfish-DDL which retains data integrity, variety and security but significantly reduces data-logging complexity.
   
   Olfish-Dynamic Data Logger (DDL) Lite is a touch-screen ready, user-friendly, front end software solution for the collection, management and reporting of vessel-based activities and ‘event driven’ data. It contains the core functionalities of the full version of the acclaimed Olfish-DDL, including a data browser screen and a variety of data entry tools to increase data logging efficiency. Predefined drop-down lists, a numerical pad, a calendar and a GPS-based “time machine” are all designed to maximize the practicality, accuracy and effectiveness of near-real time data recording and reporting during commercial fishing operations.
   
   With Olfish-DDL Lite, the user can collect a wide range of data in the form of numerical and alphanumeric fields, free-hand comments, date, time, location, etc. Each mode of data entry has its own unique data entry interface specifically designed for the type of data recorded.
   
   Olfish-DDL Lite’s reporting utility allows users to compile and send reports in real time or after-the-event to any type of permitted data recipients. These include the fishing company office, enforcement agency, resource managers, scientists, observer program managers and fish markets.
2. Data collected by Olfish DDL-Lite can be used to generate any type of report in any format (XML, HTML, CSV, PDF, etc.). These reports can be saved and transferred to other databases or client- computers either directly using onboard communication systems or portable storage devices. Olfish-DDL Lite also includes elaborate security features in order to prevent unauthorised access, including unique login IDs for users of different security levels.
   
   Olfish-DDL Lite includes a standalone GPS logger utility, which runs independently of the main Olfish component. This utility, once the computer has been connected to a GPS receiver, records vessel movements continuously at adjustable time intervals. Vessel movements are recorded, regardless of whether Olfish-DDL Lite is activated or not. Olfish-DDL Lite also includes an invisible GIS Mapper component which exists in the background of the software and facilitates the data needs of location-based fields and utilities. However, the actual map view, tracking vessel activities and positions, will not be visible to DDL-Lite users.
   
   The full version of Olfish-DDL includes many added value utilities and features which can be switched on at any time if the user elects to purchase them. The table below describes a selection of the Olfish-DDL features, indicating which are available to DDL-Lite users, and to DDL-Full users.

Featured Project:

Developing a Dutch-Compliant eLog Solution

Olrac formed a partnership with the Dutch company, SAM Electronics, for the supply of electronic logbooks to the Dutch fishing industry.

The project involved the configuration and customisation of Olfish-DDL to meet the requirements of the Dutch fishing industry, and also to comply with the Dutch fishing authorities, namely the AID and VISHUB. The project commenced with the installation of the original Dutch version onto over 50 vessels by SAM Electronics, and the collection of feedback from both SAM Electronics and the skippers themselves on the usefulness and usability of the software. The feedback gathered has been used to significantly enhance the software since its original release and it is currently installed on 130 vessels.

The full production build has been developed. The software has been considerably enhanced since its first release and now facilitates the requirement of Dutch vessels to comply with Norwegian regulations. All installations are functioning effectively and orders for new installations are received on a regular basis.

Taking their lead from the implementation of EU regulations EC 1966/2006, EC 1566/2007, EC 1077/2008, EC 409/2009, which lay down the rules for the mandatory use of electronic logbooking technology in the commercial fishing industry, several other countries around the world have begun to seriously follow this initiative. The USA, although still in the process of implementing formal regulations, has seen an increased turn away from pervious paper-based logbooks in favour of their electronic counterpart. Particularly, this can be seen in the New England Groundfish Fleet of the Sustainable Harvest Sectors, which have adopted Olfish for this purpose. Another interesting development is that the scope of use of electronic logbooking has embraced numerous differing fishery types and methods. Several crustacean fishing industries, for example, have discovered the potential of eLog technology. Three such fisheries, in South Africa (Palinurus gilchristi), Australia (Portunus Pelagicus) and the USA (Chaceon Quinquedens), use the Olfish software.

It is clear that the future of fisheries management lies in the conversion to eLog technology systems. The potential, however, affects not only commercial managers and the compliance agencies which monitor them, but scientists, conservationists and the fishers themselves, all of which can benefit, in various ways, from a more accurate, cohesive and timely approach to at-sea data collection.

1. 2nd Annual Combating and Preventing Illegal and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) in Africa.
   • Cape Town, South Africa, 26-28 January 2011
   • http://sancor.nrf.ac.za/2nd-annual-combating-and-preventing-illegal-fishing-iuu-in-africa-2010/