DFO announces plans to make electronic logbook (ELJ) systems mandatory for catch reporting in Canada’s strategic fisheries.

DFO sets up a national JBE technical committee. The RPPSG was the only representative of independent fishermen.

The RPPSG tried out an existing electronic logbook from British Columbia, which proved ill-suited to the needs of fishermen and their reality at sea. What’s more, this JBE was costly and required fishermen to call on the expertise of computer specialists for maintenance.

To protect their data, preserve their independence and meet the challenges of the first trials, the RPPSG called on Samuel Roussy, fisherman’s helper, son of a lobster fisherman and also a young computer scientist, to create an electronic logbook prototype. Greg George, a Chandler-based computer consultant at the time, guided the fishermen in their choices. The brief was to create a JBE that would be affordable, easy to use by all fishermen, and work offline on smartphones and tablets. What’s more, the JBE was to be wholly owned by independent anglers.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada issues its first official technical standards for the development of JBEs for the lobster, snow crab, shrimp and herring fisheries in the Quebec and Gulf regions. RPPSG calls on the expertise of a second computer engineer, Luc Fairfield, and a Project Manager, Claire Canet, to ensure that independent fishermen have a DFO-approved JBE. JOBEL™, the electronic logbook created by fishermen for fishermen is born.

After months of hard work and late nights at RPPSG, JOBEL becomes the first DFO-qualified electronic logbook. Independent fishermen have proved that they are capable of creating new technological solutions themselves to meet their needs, while protecting their catch data and their independence. In addition, the RPPSG has set up a free in-person training program for fishermen to help them make the transition to JBEs. By 2022, over 1,000 Atlantic Canadian fishermen will have received JOBEL training in partnership with their fishing organization.

Fishermen are the proud recipients of the prestigious Mercuriades award, SME category in the development of a new web or mobile technology category for their JOBEL™ electronic logbook.

DFO informs anglers that JBEs will become mandatory in 2024 across Canada and publishes new national technical requirements for all fisheries. Protecting the independence of Canadian fishermen is at the heart of the RPPSG’s actions. They therefore decided to develop the new national JOBEL™ to meet the real needs of fishermen and ensure complete protection of their catch data. Meanwhile, with the dedicated support of the RPPSG team, independent angler organizations have begun preparing for the transition to 2024 and training their members with the JOBEL electronic logbook.

JOBEL’s first national lobster module is officially qualified by DFO. This makes JOBEL the only electronic logbook doubly qualified by DFO.