On 01 April, new crayfish regulations came into effect across Aotearoa, introducing updated reporting requirements alongside broader changes to crayfish fishery management. As part of this shift, Dragonfly’s electronic logbook platform Deckhand was updated to reflect the new fisheries circulars, ensuring fishers could continue reporting accurately and without disruption.
For many commercial fishers, the changes arrived alongside tighter controls, area closures, and an ongoing need to record reliable, timely catch data from the water. Ensuring reporting systems meet the stipulations of these updates is critical to maintaining compliance in a changing regulatory environment.
Keeping reporting aligned with new requirements
Deckhand is an electronic logbook designed to support simple, reliable catch reporting for commercial fisheries.
Built to meet reporting requirements set by the Ministry for Primary Industries(MPI), Deckhand allows fishers to log catch data quickly on an iPad, replacing paper forms and manual logbooks. It works offline, is regularly updated, and can be configured to meet the specific needs of each fishery.
Ahead of the April changes, Deckhand was updated to reflect the new circular requirements. This meant fishers could continue recording and submitting catch data as usual, without needing to interpret or adapt to the regulatory detail themselves.
A smooth transition on the water
More than 50 crayfishers have already moved into the updated system, adopting the new reporting requirements with minimal disruption to their day-to-day operations.
The biggest changes under these new regulations include:
- Additional reporting detail required at the point of capture: including accurate recording of species, catch quantities, location (statistical area), gear type, and fishing method in line with current MPI requirements
- Standardised input formats within electronic logbooks: requiring fishers to select from predefined species, area, and method options rather than relying on free-text entry
- Greater expectation of real-time data entry: encouraging catch information to be recorded as part of normal operational workflows, rather than retrospectively.
- Updated logbook configurations aligned to MPI circular changes: ensuring the fields, validation rules, and available options within Deckhand reflect the current reporting framework
Electronic reporting plays an important role in this process. When systems are kept up to date with regulatory changes, they support consistent data capture, reduce manual reconciliation, and ensure submissions remain aligned with MPI requirements as they evolve.
Delivered with local context
Dragonfly supports Deckhand for New Zealand users, with a focus on ensuring the platform operates effectively within the local regulatory environment. That includes understanding how circular changes translate into day-to-day reporting, and making sure the system keeps pace.
For systems like Deckhand, that means staying aligned with regulatory updates so changes can be absorbed smoothly, and fishers can continue focusing on their work on the water.
Read more:
- What this fishery reporting platform is - Deckhand.
- Find the new circulars published - Fisheries NZ digital monitoring resources.
- Amended circulars - Amendments to rock lobster reporting requirements.