Report of the
EXPERT CONSULTATION ON THE USE OF VESSEL MONITORING SYSTEMS AND SATELLITES FOR FISHERIES MONITORING, CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE
Rome,
24-26 October 2006

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

FAO.
Report of the Expert Consultation on the Use of Vessel Monitoring Systems and Satellites for Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance. Rome, 24-26 October 2006.
FAO Fisheries Report. No. 815. Rome, FAO. 2007. 68p.

ABSTRACT

This document contains the report of the Expert Consultation on the Use of Monitoring Systems and Satellites for Fisheries Monitoring, Control and Surveillance, that was held at FAO headquarters, Rome, Italy, from 24 to 26 October 2006. The Expert Consultation was convened by the Director-General of FAO to review and assess technical, legal and institutional aspects concerning the use of vessel monitoring systems (VMS) and satellites in monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) with the goal of facilitating the wider use of this type of technology and promoting and strengthening international cooperation among States for its use. The Expert Consultation furthered collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), as called for in paragraph 90 of the 2001 FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated [IUU] Fishing. The Experts undertook an inventory and assessment of the status of VMS and satellites in terms of the technology and equipment employed and legal and institutional considerations. This work was complemented by a review of options to enhance the use of VMS and satellites in MCS by addressing the enhanced use of technology and strengthening the development and implementation of national legislation and international instruments to foster enhanced international cooperation for the wider use of VMS technology. The Consultation also considered issues relating to the special requirements of developing countries, the use of VMS in support of port State measures, a comprehensive record of fishing vessel and the role of the International MCS Network. The Consultation did not recommend a binding international VMS agreement although additional mechanisms such as an international plan of action, declaration or strategy to guide and facilitate global implementation of VMS might be considered. The Consultation also made recommendations, inter alia, concerning the use of VMS as a MCS tool to combat IUU fishing, the further development and implementation of VMS and the need for MCS to be enhanced particularly with respect to closer cooperation among regional fishery management organizations. The Consultation was funded by the FAO Regular Programme and by the FAO FishCode Programme through the FishCode Trust (MTF/GLO/125/MUL) and the FishCode SIDS Project (GCP/INT/823/JPN), “Responsible Fisheries for Small Island Developing States”.