NOAA Fisheries Announces a New and Improved Catch Shares Online System

KEY MESSAGE:

• NOAA Fisheries is currently developing an updated Catch Shares Online System.  The new system will be hosted in a cloud application that should decrease the unexpected down-times in the future.
• As development of the new Catch Shares Online System is underway, NOAA Fisheries will be looking for volunteers, both shareholder and dealer account holders, to help test functions in the new system.  If users are interested in testing the new online system, they should contact Catch Share Support at nmfs.ser.catchshare@noaa.gov. 
• Catch Share Support anticipates the new online system will launch in fall 2020.  The official date will be listed on the current system’s messages when known.
• The new online system will function in a similar manner to the existing online system with some long awaited improvements, including mobile phone and tablet compatibility.

NEW URL

• The URL to the website will be changing to https://SECatchShares.fisheries.noaa.gov/  
• Be sure to update all bookmarks.
• Please note that NOAA Fisheries will redirect from the old website for the foreseeable future.
   

INCREASED SECURITY THROUGH STRONGER PIN REQUIREMENTS

• Must have at least fifteen (15) non-blank characters.
• Must contain each of the following categories:
  1. Two English upper-case characters (A-Z)
  2. Two English lower-case characters (a-z)
  3. Two Special Characters
  4. Two Numbers (0-9)
• New PIN may not be the same as the current PIN or past eight (8) PINs.

INCREASED SECURITY THROUGH SECRET QUESTIONS

• Secret question and answer development will become mandatory.
• Account PIN will only be recoverable by answering secret questions.
• Answering secret questions will provide a temporary PIN to access account.
• Upon logging in with the temporary PIN, users will be prompted to create a new account PIN following new PIN requirements.

**To facilitate this change, users should consider meeting the new PIN and secret question requirements before the new system is launched, as we anticipate increased call volume during the transition.**

LANDING TRANSACTIONS WITH DIFFERENT PRICES PER POUND FOR THE SAME SPECIES

• The system will now accept multiple entries per species to allow for different prices per pound in one landing transaction, rather than having to submit multiple transactions.
• Therefore, if someone lands red snapper at two different prices per pound, they can record red snapper in the same transaction two different times, with the appropriate weight and price per pound (e.g., 100 pounds at $4.50 and 50 pounds at $5.00).
   

COST RECOVERY FEES

• Although the new online system will look different, it will still redirect dealers paying cost recovery fees to pay.gov to complete any necessary payments.
• The payment schedule is listed below so that dealers may mark their calendars as a reminder.