Modernizing Fisheries Data: The Successful Rollout and Expansion of the SAFIS eDR Redesign
The Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Statistics Program (ACCSP) officially launched its highly anticipated SAFIS eDR (electronic dealer reporting) redesign on January 1, 2026. Developed throughout 2025 in close coordination with ACCSP partners, this modernization effort marks a major leap forward in commercial landings data collection.
Throughout the development phase, partner agencies were kept thoroughly informed, maintaining a collaborative environment that ensured the system was tailored to real-world needs. Testing of the system was conducted by actual dealers in addition to partner agency staff, an approach that was instrumental in refining the user experience. While a transition of this scale naturally brought minor issues to address, the official rollout has been deemed a resounding success. The redesigned system ultimately delivers more consistent, higher-quality data through flexible user interfaces, establishing a highly expandable foundation for future fisheries science and management.
Key Highlights of the Redesign
The overhauled SAFIS eDR framework introduces critical structural improvements designed to optimize operations for dealers, vendors, and administrators alike:
- Updated Online Interface: Users benefit from a refreshed, modern online reporting tool that improves navigation and ease of use.
- Streamlined Data Flow: The system features consistent validations across all modes of entry, ensuring that data is checked uniformly whether entered manually, uploaded in bulk, or submitted by API.
- API Access: The SAFIS API is now available to any approved software vendor or individual dealer, provided they obtain official submission agency pre-approval. This eliminates the need to manually export files by allowing custom software to transmit data directly.
- Dynamic Partner Attributes: The new architecture allows for the dynamic and customized addition of reporting questions. Partner agencies can now tailor fields to gather specific information based on their localized regulations or the unique species purchased.
Post-Launch Enhancements
Following the January launch, development teams have continued to refine the system based on operational feedback. Recent enhancements have successfully targeted system visibility and administrative control:
- Improved FVT Validation Check Visibility: Significant upgrades were made to the file upload interface, now called File Validation Transfer (FVT), which processes bulk file uploads. Users now receive clearer, more actionable visibility into specific values that need revision or adjustment, facilitating troubleshooting and resubmission.
- Advanced Administrative Control: System administrators now have increased functionality to directly edit and unlock records, simplifying faster data corrections and smoother workflow management.
The project enabled ACCSP to modernize its data infrastructure and safely decommission unsupported legacy systems such as an older server and file upload software lacking validations. This transition to a centralized, secure platform improved data integrity and efficiency for end users and partner agency staff. By unifying data standards and providing flexible pathways for submission, the redesigned SAFIS eDR ensures that commercial fisheries data remains accurate, accessible, and ready to support sustainable science and management for years to come.
Help & Resources
To support dealers and partners, ACCSP provides a comprehensive suite of support tools and a dedicated helpdesk. Full information and links to videos and documentation can be found on the eDR help page.
Technical Support
- For general system issues, password resets, or account assistance, users can contact the
- 1-800-984-0810
Help Desk New Hours - Monday – Friday: 6 am – 6 pm
Saturday/Sunday/Holidays: 8 am – 2 pm - mobile_support@accsp.org
For regulatory questions or issues specific to state or federal reporting requirements, users should contact their local agency directly.