Users create an account using their name, email, ELOG key (received from DFO), password and timezone. From there, users can set their trip defaults to auto-populate some of their data for their trips, and begin documenting their fishing expeditions digitally.
Before you can use Open Trip, you must get an electronic logbook (ELOG) key from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in order to use the Open Trip ELOG application to send data to DFO’s national system. To obtain, or replace an ELOG key follow the instructions on the DFO website.
Once a trip is created, a user can edit their fishing effort at any time through the initial trip creation process. Before closing your trip, you’ll have one last opportunity to make any changes to your fishing effort, such as adding lost gear, adding a species at risk sighting and correcting the weight of your catch from that trip. Once a trip is closed it can no longer be edited and is ready to be sent to Fishers and Oceans Canada (DFO). Keep in mind, in order to transmit a trip to DFO, you must have an internet connection. Open Trip also includes a trip history feature, for you to explore and look back at previously transmitted trips to DFO.