2021 Information & Reporting Updates on the Marine Invasive Species Program

This information was provided to shipping agents and interested parties on December 30, 2020, to remind them of mandatory reporting requirements.

New Submission Requirement for the Marine Invasive Species Program Annual Vessel Reporting Form

Effective January 1, 2021, the Marine Invasive Species Program Annual Vessel Reporting Form (AVRF) is required to be submitted through the web-based platform, MISP.IO. The new requirement affects only the method of submission, not the timing of submission. The AVRF must still be submitted once each calendar year and at least 24 hours prior to a vessel’s first arrival at a California port. Note that the AVRF can be submitted earlier during the calendar year (e.g., submitted in January for the first arrival in March), if desired, and can be submitted by anyone affiliated with the vessel (e.g., ownership, management, crew).

The following recorded webinar presentations provide more information about the new AVRF submission requirement:

• Submitting an AVRF through MISP.IO
• MISP.IO Website Security
• MISP.IO Web-Based User Interface (Creating an account in MISP.IO)
• Changes to the AVRF Submission Requirements

The presentations are available here.

Violations may be issued for failure to submit an AVRF at least 24 hours prior to a vessel’s first arrival at a California port each calendar year; however, for the duration of 2021, Commission staff has committed to not enforce violations of the new requirement to submit the AVRF via MISP.IO.

Vessel owners or operators that are unable to submit the AVRF via MISP.IO due to logistic or technological challenges are encouraged to contact the Marine Invasive Species Program as soon as possible to inquire about alternatives for AVRF submission.

Reminder about Ballast Water Management Report Submission Requirements

All vessels that arrive at California ports must submit the Ballast Water Management Report 24 hours prior to arrival at each port in California. If a vessel’s voyage is less than 24 hours, then the report shall be submitted upon departure from the last port of call prior to arrival.

For more information about the regulations administered by the Marine Invasive Species Program, please visit https://www.slc.ca.gov/Programs/MISP.html.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please contact me with any questions.