Prawn Fishery
Services & Supplies
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Trap tags are serialized and color-coded identification tags.
All commercial prawn traps must carry current-year tags issued by J.O. Thomas & Associates
Attach one tag to each trap before the trap is used. Keep the tag in place for the full season.
Ensure the tag remains clearly visible on the trap.
Use replacement tags only when original tags are damaged, lost, or otherwise unusable. Replacement tags should not be used unless necessary.
Order: Trap tag orders for the 2026 season are not yet open — please check again in May.
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Tube labels are pre-printed identification labels used on tubbed frozen prawn tails.
Only tubs with labels will be recognized as legally and sustainably harvested.
All tubs must display a label from fill to final sale.
Labels can go anywhere on the container but should be clearly visible.
Labels must be ordered in advance through J.O. Thomas & Associates and will be distributed with trap tags.
Unused labels must be returned to J.O. Thomas & Associates at the end of the season.
Order: Tub label orders for the 2026 season are not yet open — please check again in March.
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Fishers may continue to use logbooks from previous years; purchasing a new logbook is not required.
Complete all required fields daily.
Keep the logbook on board and secure throughout the season.
Submit completed logbooks to DFO within the required timeframe.
Order: Orders for the 2026 season are not yet open — please check again at the end of April.
Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
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J. O. Thomas and Associates Ltd. provides electronic vessel and gear tracking in the Canadian Commercial Pacific Spot Prawn fishery. The Prawn Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) comprises of electronic hardware (iTrac II) and software (JOT Prawn Trap computer program) onboard each fishing vessel. VMS works by transmitting vessel and gear locations through the Iridium Satellite System to the J. O. Thomas and Associates office, which aids At-Sea Observers in locating vessels and their gear more effectively for spawner-index sampling.
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The iTrac II is a self-contained Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) installed on fishing vessels for monitoring vessel position in real time. The iTrac II uses Iridium satellite telemetry to transmit and receive data.
This VMS is manufactured by MetOcean Telematics, and is available for purchase from J. O. Thomas and Associates Ltd. The iTrac II is approved by Fisheries and Ocean Canada (DFO) and meets the current requirements for the commercial Prawn and Shrimp by Trap Fishery in the Pacific region.
Learn More: VMS Hardware FAQs
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The JOT Prawn Trap program interfaces with the iTrac II allowing the fisher to send and record Set and Haul positions.
JOT Prawn Trap program version 1.2.0.0 (latest version):
Improvements from the previous version include the ability to:
Run at the same time as the navigation software, such as TimeZero, on the same PC.
Manually connect and disconnect the iTrac com port from the file menu.disconnect the iTrac com port from the file menu.
transmit lost trap location.
For instructions on how to install the program, refer to the How to Install/Uninstall the JOT Prawn Trap Program guide.
Learn More: VMS Software FAQs
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iTrac II Prawn VMS Setup Guide and Operating System 2.0
How to Install & Uninstall the JOT Prawn Trap Program
National Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) Form
JOT Prawn Trap version 1.2.0.0
Documents and installation instructions can also be found at the following Dropbox link: VMS Resources - Dropbox