23. In alphabetical order the Member Countries of the SRFC and Sierra Leone briefed the Workshop on the status of MCS and VMS in their respective countries. The country statements are attached in their original versions as Annex 6. Of particular interest to the participants was the existence of approximately 100 vessels equipped with Argos transceivers in Senegal. These VMS systems are owned by the private fleet operators and used to check the activities of their vessels, and to serve as evidence in the event of gear conflicts with artisanal fishers and accusations of closed area violations.
