Fishing Vessel Monitoring Fishing Vessel Monitoring What Is VMS?

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Fishing Vessel Monitoring Fishing Vessel Monitoring What Is VMS? Report of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission Workshop on Vessel Monitoring Systems. Saly, Senegal, 14-17 oct 2002 Item Type Report Citation FAO Fisheries Report. No. 696. Rome, FAO. 2002. 99p. Publisher FAO Download date 26/09/2021 23:40:09 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/328 47 Annex 5.4 Fishing Vessel Monitoring: The What, Why and How Slide 1 Slide 4 ShipboardShipboard equipmentequipment FishingFishing vesselvessel monitoringmonitoring •• Typically Typically aa standard,standard, satellitesatellite transmittertransmitter oror transceivertransceiver TheThe what,what, whywhy andand howhow •• Almost Almost alwaysalways integratesintegrates globalglobal positioningpositioning systemsystem (GPS)(GPS) receiverreceiver Robert Gallaher, Robert Gallaher, •• Can Can bebe partpart ofof vessel’svessel’s communicationscommunications FAOFAO ConsultantConsultant systemsystem oror completelycompletely independentindependent Slide 2 Slide 5 WhatWhat isis VMS?VMS? TransmissionTransmission mediummedium •• The The useuse ofof communicationscommunications andand navigationnavigation systemssystems toto tracktrack thethe •• Two Two essentialessential elements:elements: movementsmovements ofof vesselsvessels –– From From shipship toto shoreshore •• A A tooltool forfor improvingimproving thethe efficiencyefficiency ofof MCSMCS –– From From shoreshore toto fisheriesfisheries monitoringmonitoring centre (FMC) •• A A tooltool forfor improvingimproving thethe effectivenesseffectiveness ofof centre (FMC) resourceresource managementmanagement •• Until Until present,present, satellitessatellites havehave exclusivityexclusivity forfor shipship toto shore,shore, butbut othersothers possiblepossible •• Shore Shore toto FMCFMC cancan bebe datadata connectionconnection (X.25,(X.25, internet),internet), telephonetelephone (fixed(fixed oror cellular)cellular) oror satellitesatellite relay.relay. Slide 3 Slide 6 WhatWhat doesdoes VMSVMS require?require? FMC:FMC: datadata storagestorage && processingprocessing •• Typically Typically standard,standard, PCPC hardwarehardware •• Communications Communications modulemodule assuresassures interfaceinterface •• Transmission Transmission equipmentequipment aboardaboard withwith transmissiontransmission mediummedium vesselsvessels •• Data Data basebase managermanager storesstores andand •• A A transmissiontransmission medium/systemmedium/system manipulatesmanipulates datadata •• A A meansmeans ofof receiving,receiving, storing,storing, •• Graphics Graphics programprogram permitspermits displaydisplay ofof datadata displayingdisplaying andand manipulatingmanipulating datadata onon mapsmaps 48 Slide 7 VHF/CellularVHF/Cellular PSTNPSTN FMCFMC ProtectionProtection ResourceResource AndAnd industryindustry managementmanagement ControlControl Slide 8 Slide 10 BasicBasic operationaloperational scenarioscenario AA wordword aboutabout securitysecurity •• Equipment Equipment aboardaboard vesselvessel createscreates datadata filefile atat •• This This datadata isis highlyhighly confidentialconfidential forfor goodgood pre-determinedpre-determined intervalsintervals reasonreason – File contains position of vessel in latitude and – File contains position of vessel in latitude and • Sufficient measures must be taken to longitudelongitude • Sufficient measures must be taken to –– Perhaps Perhaps speedspeed andand coursecourse guardguard thatthat confidentialityconfidentiality •• File File isis transmittedtransmitted viavia transmissiontransmission mediamedia toto •• Failure Failure toto dodo thisthis couldcould wellwell leadlead toto FMCFMC compromise,compromise, oror eveneven failure,failure, ofof projectproject • FMC puts data at disposal of authorities for use • FMC puts data at disposal of authorities for use •• More More laterlater andand possiblepossible distributiondistribution Slide 9 Slide 11 WhatWhat doesdoes datadata provide?provide? AnalyzingAnalyzing VMSVMS datadata ---- 1 1 •• At At veryvery minimum,minimum, anan historicalhistorical recordrecord ofof •• The The mostmost basicbasic case:case: latitude,latitude, longitudelongitude vessel’svessel’s movementsmovements plusplus timetime stampstamp •• Depending Depending uponupon configurationconfiguration used,used, aa –– Estimation Estimation ofof fishingfishing efforteffort measuredmeasured inin daysdays quasi-real-timequasi-real-time viewview ofof vesselvessel behaviorbehavior atat seasea – Determination of ports for landing •• The The basisbasis forfor deductionsdeductions asas toto fishingfishing andand – Determination of ports for landing – Control of passage or fishing activity in commercialcommercial activityactivity – Control of passage or fishing activity in restrictedrestricted areasareas 49 Slide 12 Slide 15 AnalysingAnalysing VMS VMS datadata ---- 2 2 PuttingPutting VMSVMS datadata toto useuse ---- 3 3 •• Addition Addition ofof speedspeed andand coursecourse –– Determination Determination ofof “probable”“probable” fishingfishing activityactivity usingusing speedspeed –– Certain Certain determinationdetermination ofof fishingfishing activityactivity usingusing •• Resource Resource managementmanagement “fishing“fishing fingerprint”fingerprint” –– Calculation Calculation ofof fishingfishing efforteffort –– Prediction Prediction ofof futurefuture activityactivity ofof vesselvessel •• In In zonezone asas aa wholewhole •• In In specificspecific areasareas •• In In specificspecific fisheriesfisheries –– Follow Follow evolutionevolution ofof fishingfishing groundsgrounds Slide 13 Slide 16 PuttingPutting VMSVMS datadata toto useuse ---- 1 1 PuttingPutting VMSVMS datadata toto useuse ---- 4 4 •• Fisheries Fisheries protectionprotection && controlcontrol –– Cross-referenced Cross-referenced withwith landinglanding andand research data –– Control Control ofof fishingfishing efforteffort research data • Analysis of fisheries under pressure of over- – Control of protected/forbidden zones • Analysis of fisheries under pressure of over- – Control of protected/forbidden zones exploitationexploitation – Control of illegal landings – Control of illegal landings •• Analysis Analysis ofof seasonalseasonal trendstrends inin fisheries fisheries –– Control Control ofof illegalillegal trans-shipmentstrans-shipments •• Preventive Preventive measuresmeasures inin allocationallocation ofof fishing fishing efforteffort andand quotasquotas Slide 14 Slide 17 PuttingPutting VMSVMS datadata toto useuse ---- 2 2 PuttingPutting VMSVMS datadata toto useuse ---- 5 5 •• Fisheries Fisheries protectionprotection && controlcontrol ---- 2 2 •• At At thethe serviceservice ofof industryindustry –– Increasing Increasing thethe efficiencyefficiency ofof patrolpatrol vesselsvessels andand –– Opportunity Opportunity toto shareshare datadata toto makemake resourceresource aircraftaircraft managementmanagement aa communalcommunal efforteffort –– Providing Providing aa crediblecredible deterrentdeterrent toto illegalillegal fishingfishing –– Distribute Distribute datadata inin real-timereal-time toto assistassist –– Providing Providing supportingsupporting evidenceevidence inin prosecutionsprosecutions operationsoperations • A serious deterrent to illegal fishing –– A A powerfulpowerful tooltool againstagainst illegalillegal fishingfishing • A serious deterrent to illegal fishing –– Significantly Significantly improvedimproved safetysafety atat seasea 50 Slide 18 FutureFuture developmentsdevelopments ---- 1 1 •• Predicted Predicted plethoraplethora ofof newnew satellitesatellite systemssystems unlikelyunlikely toto developdevelop •• Nonetheless, Nonetheless, equipmentequipment andand servicesservices ofof existingexisting providersproviders tendingtending lowerlower •• The The rangerange ofof companiescompanies providingproviding FMCFMC softwaresoftware andand relatedrelated servicesservices isis growinggrowing quicklyquickly Slide 19 FutureFuture developmentsdevelopments ---- 2 2 •• Electronic Electronic loglog bookbook –– Missing Missing linklink inin datadata necessarynecessary forfor mostmost effectiveeffective controlcontrol andand managementmanagement –– Most Most importantimportant impedimentimpediment isis lacklack ofof standardstandard datadata formatformat •• Earth Earth observationobservation satellitessatellites toto provideprovide independentindependent verificationverification ofof VMSVMS datadata –– Definitive Definitive tooltool againstagainst illegalillegal fishingfishing 51 Annex 5.5 Institutional Options for VMS Slide 1 Slide 4 Uses of VMS - 2 • Vessel location Institutional – clearer definition of closed areas – planning/ targetting of patrols options – reduction in patrol cost & time, increased efficiency – comparison with radar overlays/ images for VMS • Measurement of fishing activity – effort limitations Kieran Kelleher – effort ‘quotas’ as an alternative to fish quotas Sub-Regional VMS Workshop – protecting endangered species Saly, Sénégal 14-17 October, 2002 – examples: USA, CFP • Catch control 1 – at sea registration of catch (e-logs), X-checks 4 Slide 2 Slide 5 Presentation Criteria for selection of fisheries • Uses of VMS in fisheries control • Health of the fishery, or habitat • Criteria for selection of fisheries • Low compliance levels • High enforcement costs • National VMS schemes • Number/ size of vessels involved • International VMS schemes • Geographical distribution of fishery • Need for ‘immediate’ information • Need more accurate management data • Views of the fishing industry • Safety of vessels 2 5 Slide 3 Slide 6 A range of uses of VMS Examples of VMS schemes
Recommended publications
  • Cross-Matching VIIRS Boat Detections with Vessel Monitoring System Tracks in Indonesia
    remote sensing Article Cross-Matching VIIRS Boat Detections with Vessel Monitoring System Tracks in Indonesia Feng-Chi Hsu 1,2 , Christopher D. Elvidge 2,*, Kimberly Baugh 1,2, Mikhail Zhizhin 1,2, Tilottama Ghosh 1,2, David Kroodsma 3 , Adi Susanto 4,5, Wiryawan Budy 6, Mochammad Riyanto 6, Ridwan Nurzeha 7 and Yeppi Sudarja 7 1 Cooperative Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80303, USA; [email protected] (F.-C.H.); [email protected] (K.B.); [email protected] (M.Z.); [email protected] (T.G.) 2 Earth Observation Group, Payne Institute, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois St., Golden, CO 80401, USA 3 Global Fishing Watch, Washington, DC 20036, USA; david@globalfishingwatch.org 4 Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Banten 42124, Indonesia; [email protected] 5 Indonesia-Center of Excellence for Food Security, University of Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa, Jalan Raya Jakarta Km 4, Panancangan, Cipocok Jaya, Kota Serang, Banten 42124, Indonesia 6 Department of Fisheries Resources Utilization, Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Sciences, Bogor Agricultural University, Jl. Raya Dramaga Kampus IPB Dramaga Bogor, West Java 16680, Indonesia; [email protected] (W.B.); [email protected] (M.R.) 7 Kementerian Kelautan dan Perikanan, KKP Gedung Mina Bahari I Lt 5 Jl. Medan Merdeka Timur No. 16, Jakarta 10110, Indonesia; [email protected] (R.N.); [email protected] (Y.S.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Received: 3 March 2019; Accepted: 19 April 2019; Published: 26 April 2019 Abstract: A methodology had been proposed for cross-matching visible infrared imaging radiometer suite (VIIRS) boat detections (VBD) with vessel monitoring system (VMS) tracks.
    [Show full text]
  • New and Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Fisheries: a Comprehensive Landscape Analysis
    Photo by Pablo Sanchez Quiza New and Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Fisheries: A Comprehensive Landscape Analysis Environmental Defense Fund | Oceans Technology Solutions | April 2021 New and Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Fisheries: A Comprehensive Landscape Analysis Authors: Christopher Cusack, Omisha Manglani, Shems Jud, Katie Westfall and Rod Fujita Environmental Defense Fund Nicole Sarto and Poppy Brittingham Nicole Sarto Consulting Huff McGonigal Fathom Consulting To contact the authors please submit a message through: edf.org/oceans/smart-boats edf.org | 2 Contents List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................................................................... 5 1. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................7 2. Transformative Technologies......................................................................................................................... 10 2.1 Sensors ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Satellite remote sensing ...........................................................................................................................12 2.3 Data Collection Platforms ......................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Compliance and Enforcement for the Exclusive Economic Zone Fisheries Management in the United Republic of Anzaniat
    World Maritime University The Maritime Commons: Digital Repository of the World Maritime University World Maritime University Dissertations Dissertations 11-4-2018 Compliance and enforcement for the exclusive economic zone fisheries management in the United Republic of anzaniaT Christian Alphonce Nzowa Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.wmu.se/all_dissertations Part of the Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, and the Economic Policy Commons Recommended Citation Nzowa, Christian Alphonce, "Compliance and enforcement for the exclusive economic zone fisheries management in the United Republic of Tanzania" (2018). World Maritime University Dissertations. 682. https://commons.wmu.se/all_dissertations/682 This Dissertation is brought to you courtesy of Maritime Commons. Open Access items may be downloaded for non-commercial, fair use academic purposes. No items may be hosted on another server or web site without express written permission from the World Maritime University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. WORLD MARITIME UNIVERSITY Malmö, Sweden COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT FOR THE EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC ZONE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA By CHRISTIAN ALPHONCE NZOWA Tanzania A dissertation submitted to the World Maritime University in partial Fulfillment of the requirement for the award of the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In MARITIME AFFAIRS (OCEAN SUSTAINABILITY GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT) 2018 Copyright: Christian Alphonce Nzowa, 2018 Declaration I certify that all the material in the dissertation that is not my own work has been identified, and that no material is included for which a degree has previously been conferred on me.The content of this dissertation reflect my own personal views, and are not necessarily endorsed by the University.
    [Show full text]
  • Vessel Monitoring Systems and Their Role in Fisheries Management and Monitoring, Control and Surveillance
    Vessel Monitoring Systems and their Role in Fisheries Management and Monitoring, Control and Surveillance 1.0 Vessel Monitoring Systems: Overview Fisheries managers started utilizing Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) in the 1990si to track the locations and monitor the activities of fishing vessels in order to bolster the efficacy of fisheries management measures. This capability also enhanced enforcement capacity by facilitating more effective and cost efficient enforcement actions by providing a level of monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) not possible with traditional and more conventional methods of aerial and surface surveillance. Satellite-based VMS are described by the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) as: “…comprised of several components. Each participating vessel must carry a VMS unit. This shipboard electronic equipment is installed permanently onboard a fishing vessel and assigned a unique identifier. Most shipboard VMS equipment types use satellite communication systems that have an integrated Global Positioning System (GPS). The system calculates the unit’s position and sends a data report to shoreside users. The standard data report includes the VMS unit’s unique identifier, date, time and position in latitude and longitude…” Initially, VMS was used as an instrument for flag States to track the activities of their own domestic fishing vessels, and for coastal States to monitor foreign-flagged fishing vessels licensed to operate within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provided the legal basis for this as it gave coastal States the primary responsibility for managing all living marine resources within their 200 nautical mile EEZ. The United Nations (UN) Fish Stocks Agreement specifically called for the implementation of VMS by flag States in the framework of sub- regional, regional and global agreementsii.
    [Show full text]
  • The Impact of New Monitoring Technology on Fisheries Management
    September 2019 The impact of new monitoring technology on fisheries management Can camera technology improve compliance in the discard ban? Tom Koppenol Reg.nr: 930625467070 Supervisor: Dr. AP. Richter Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group Abstract Fisheries management has seen many changes over the years, from the introduction of the quota system to the ban on pulse fishery. More recently there has been the introduction of the discard ban. The discard ban is thought to be difficult to monitor, as current technologies are insufficient outside of the ports. Fishermen are also known to be upset about the ban and are unlikely to comply out of their own volition. For this reason many countries with similar policies have opted to make use of on-board camera monitoring, however new technologies are not always easily accepted. People’s behaviour can be influenced by playing into various factors having to do with intrinsic motivation. Self-determination, trust in the system and reciprocity are some examples. It is believed that camera monitoring could have a positive effect on these factors, and if the government were to invest in the right developments it may result in voluntary compliance with the discard ban. Stakeholder participation is also thought to influence compliance, as social norms can be used to have individuals adhere to the rules, either through leading by example or retaliation. Camera technology gives the tools for such possibilities. It may even make a policy change possible, where the discard ban is changed into a new system where catches are fully registered at sea, instead of on land.
    [Show full text]
  • Monitoring Bycatch: a Fishing Industry Generated Solution. ICES CM 2009/M:05
    ICES CM 2009/M:05 Not to be cited without prior reference to the author Monitoring bycatch: a fishing industry generated solution. R.D. Stanley1, H. McElderry2, J. Koolman3, and T. Mawani4 Abstract The groundfish industry in the province of British Columbia and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada implemented the B.C. Groundfish Integrated Pilot Project in March of 2006. The project was initiated, in general, because of the difficulty of managing many species of groundfish across multiple license/gear sectors and, in particular, because of the difficulty in quota-managing stocks without discard information. Motivated, in part, by a combination of “carrot” (introduction of ITQs) and “big stick” (fix it or lose it) incentives, the fishing industry took the lead role in designing, funding, and implementing a cost-effective 100% at-sea catch monitoring program in a small-boat fleet of over 250 vessels. In its first three years, the Project has surpassed the expectations of many of the industry and government participants. This monitoring now provides accurate and statistically defensible estimates of total catch for all quota species, thereby removing the need for more complex, and possibly biased, discard estimation procedures. The accurate monitoring of total catch by species (discarded and retained) by each vessel in near real time provides managers with relatively simple options for controlling and even minimizing discards through individual species caps. With this individual accountability framework, fishers are motivated to develop their individualized strategies to reduce non-desirable catches, as opposed to the more problematic approach of top-down design and enforcement of temporal or spatial closures, or gear restrictions.
    [Show full text]
  • Vessel Monitoring Systems – What You Need to Know
    Vessel Monitoring Systems – What You Need to Know The reauthorization of the Magnuson Stevens Act put in place the requirement for better monitoring of fisheries. Monitoring has been deemed necessary to allow managers to assess the health of fish stocks and also better understand the activities and operation of the fishery - the fleet and the communities that rely on harvesting fish. Various types of monitoring are being tested within the United States and even within the South Atlantic region. One type of monitoring method currently in use in some fisheries in the region is a Vessel Monitoring System, commonly referred to as VMS. The Council is considering the use of VMS as a monitoring tool for all federal commercial snapper grouper vessels in the region. As the Council moves forward with developing options for use of this technology, stakeholders throughout the region have begun to ask questions about VMS. What is it? How does the system work? Why is this being considered for this fishery? What are the benefits and challenges of using VMS? Here are a few facts to help answer these questions and more. What is VMS? A Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is a satellite-based program installed on vessels in a fishing fleet that assists with monitoring vessel movement and fishing activity in the fleet in real-time. How does the system work? The system consists of a mobile transceiver unit placed on the vessel, a communications service provider that supplies the wireless link between the unit on the vessel and the NMFS Office of Law Enforcement (OLE), and a secure OLE facility where staff can monitor compliance.
    [Show full text]
  • Coupling Logbooks and Vessel Monitoring System for Investigations of Large Pelagic Fishing Activities by Sri Lanka Sudheera Gunasekara1, Jagath Rajapaksha1
    Coupling Logbooks and Vessel Monitoring System for Investigations of Large Pelagic Fishing Activities by Sri Lanka Sudheera Gunasekara1, Jagath Rajapaksha1, Email: [email protected], [email protected] 1 Institute of Oceanography and Marine Sciences, National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA), Crow Island, Colombo 15. Sri Lanka. KEY WORDS: VMS, logbooks, fishing forecast, R ABSTRACT: Sri Lanka has implemented a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) in 2015 to monitor fishing activities of offshore and high seas large pelagic fishing activities. Vessel monitoring system provides information on fishing activity at large spatial scales. Logbooks have been introduced for systematic fishery data collection in parallel to the VMS. Even though readily available software packages available for VMS data analyses, logbook data of Sri Lanka’s VMS and logbook data were not in required formats. Therefore, a methodology was developed based on free and open-source R software for the data processing, analysis and visualization of VMS and logbook data. The attributes of VMS data consist of position, time, speed, heading and vessel identification number etc while logbooks have records on fishing activities including catch information. The VMS data from January to March 2016 and corresponding fishery logbook records were obtained from the Department of Fisheries. VMS and logbook data were link using a unique vessel identifier, position and the date of fishing. The VMS and logbook data analysis involves extracting VMS pings from cruise track records that matches with fishing activities. More than 40 % of logbook records were found with correct geographical locations with 0.3-degree precision. However, successive position records have 4-hour interval and the movements within that interval is not known.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rms – a Question of Confidence?
    THE RMS – A QUESTION OF CONFIDENCE? - Manipulations and Falsifications in Whaling A review by Dr. Sandra Altherr, Kitty Block and Sue Fisher - 2 - RMS: A Question of Confidence? – Manipulations and Falsifications in Whaling Content 1. The RMS Process in 2005 and Remaining Questions ................................................................................ 3 2. RMP................................................................................................................................................................. 4 2.1. Tuning Level ............................................................................................................................................. 4 2.2. Phasing in the RMP.................................................................................................................................. 4 2.3. Current RMS Discussion on the RMP....................................................................................................... 4 3. Catch Verification through International Observers................................................................................... 5 3.1. Misreporting and Underreporting in Past Whaling Activities ..................................................................... 5 3.2. Manipulations of Sex Ratio and Body-Length Data .................................................................................. 6 3.3. Hampering of Inspectors and Observers .................................................................................................. 7 3.4.
    [Show full text]
  • Satellite-Based Vessel Monitoring Systems International Legal Aspects & Developments in State Practice
    University of Wollongong Research Online Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities 2000 Satellite-based vessel monitoring systems International legal aspects & developments in state practice Ben M. Tsamenyi University of Wollongong, [email protected] Erik Jaap Molenaar Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.uow.edu.au/lhapapers Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons, and the Law Commons Recommended Citation Tsamenyi, Ben M. and Jaap Molenaar, Erik, "Satellite-based vessel monitoring systems International legal aspects & developments in state practice" (2000). Faculty of Law, Humanities and the Arts - Papers. 174. https://ro.uow.edu.au/lhapapers/174 Research Online is the open access institutional repository for the University of Wollongong. For further information contact the UOW Library: [email protected] Satellite-based vessel monitoring systems International legal aspects & developments in state practice Keywords state, developments, practice, satellite, systems, monitoring, aspects, legal, international, vessel Disciplines Arts and Humanities | Law Publication Details B. M. Tsamenyi & E. Jaap Molenaar, Satellite-based vessel monitoring systems International legal aspects & developments in state practice (2000) This report is available at Research Online: https://ro.uow.edu.au/lhapapers/174 SATELLITE-BASED VESSEL MONITORING SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL LEGAL ASPECTS & DEVELOPMENTS IN STATE PRACTICE by Erik Jaap Molenaar & Martin Tsamenyi FAO LEGAL PAPERS ONLINE #7 April
    [Show full text]
  • Overview of Vessel Monitoring System Discussion Paper April 2012
    Agenda Item D-1(b) April 2012 Overview of Vessel Monitoring System Discussion Paper April 2012 I. Introduction Since 2000, the Council has been extending requirements for Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) coverage to new categories of commercial fishing vessels, in order to enforce new regulations primarily pertaining to Steller sea protection measures and protection measures for EFH and HAPC. In October 2011, the Council approved a motion to initiate a discussion paper to review the use of and requirements for VMS in the North Pacific fisheries and other regions of the U.S. The Council stated that while there is uncertainty regarding whether a major change to or expansion of VMS requirements is necessary in the North Pacific, there is interest in reviewing the current state of the North Pacific VMS requirements in addition to other regions’ application of VMS. The Council also specified that the Council’s IFQ Implementation Committee should review the paper and provide recommendations prior to Council review. Per the Council, the intent of the committee review is to provide depth to the discussion paper, specifically on implementation issues associated with the potential for VMS requirements in the halibut and sablefish IFQ fisheries. In December 2011, the Council recommended that Council review of the discussion paper be scheduled for the April 2012 meeting. The discussion paper includes a description of VMS and its benefits, a review of existing VMS requirements in the North Pacific, a summary of the most recent 2007 Council action related to expanding VMS requirements, a summary of VMS coverage in the North Pacific, cost estimates for VMS, and a review of VMS applications in other regions.
    [Show full text]
  • Compliance Guide Vessel Monitoring Program for Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery
    Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Vessel Monitoring Program Effective February 4, 2008 Updated and re-published May 2020 Summary Why does the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery need a Vessel Monitoring Program? A vessel monitoring program is an enforcement tool that can be used to monitor compliance with areas closed to fishing. Since the vessel monitoring pilot program was implemented on January 1, 2004, new closed areas have gone into effect and the Council has prioritized expanding the original requirements to the Open Access commercial groundfish fleet in order to monitor compliance with conservation areas. Conservation areas include Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs), Cowcod Conservation Areas (CCAs), Cordell Banks Closed Area, Farallon Islands Closed Areas, Bycatch Reduction Areas, Block Area Closures, Essential Fish Habitat Conservation Areas (EFHCAs), Deep-sea Ecosystem Conservation Areas, and Yelloweye Rockfish Conservation Areas (YRCAs), etc. A complete description of these closed areas, including detailed location information and to which sectors and gears they apply, is available on our "Groundfish Closed Areas" page. Over time, the groundfish conservation area boundaries and restrictions will likely change. The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will keep the fishing fleet informed as these changes are made. Parts of the Vessel Monitoring Program The Pacific Coast vessel monitoring program consists of a vessel monitoring system and declaration reports. Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) consists of equipment that tracks a vessel's geographic position through a satellite communication system. A VMS transceiver unit is installed aboard the vessel that communicates via a satellite to a processing center. For the Pacific Coast program, a basic VMS system with 2-way communication will be used to track vessel activity in relation to closed areas.
    [Show full text]