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VMS Programme South Australia VMS Programme

 

	Profile				Contacts

Provincial/state/local programme

• Several state agencies in Australia maintain their own VMS programmes, including South Australia.
• Managed by Primary Industries and Resources South Australia (PIRSA)
• Geographic area includes marine waters of South Australia from the South Australia/Western Australia border to the South Australia/Victoria border.

Fisheries monitored by VMS

• Northern Zone Rock Lobster fishery:
  • Currently 69 licenses held, if fishing during the northern zone rock lobster season are required to have an operational VMS on board, even if not targeting rock lobster
  • During the 2004/2005 season actively monitored 59 vessels
  • Vessels range from 8.8 to 18.4 metres
  • VMS was introduced into this fishery when it moved to a quota management system due to the expansive coastline and high number of potential offload sites. VMS was part of the most efficient and cost-effective compliance package.

• Miscellaneous fishery (Giant Crab):
  • Currently 2 dedicated giant crab fishers required to have VMS on board
  • Vessels are within the 16.5-18.5 meter range
  • VMS in use due to the requirement to fish outside of 60 fathoms

• At-sea aquaculture operation:
• Currently one at-sea aquaculture operation is required to have VMS as a condition of their licence.
• Vessel is 123 meters in length
• VMS required as vessel has a defined operating zone that it must remain within at all times. There is also a licensing requirement for the vessel to be moved a minimum of 3 nautical miles every 14 days.

VMS planned for implementation in 2005

• Negotiations are advanced in relation to the implementation of VMS within a further SA fishery
• Should this proceed, implementation is likely to occur by July 1 2005.
• VMS in this fishery would be used to maximize compliance efficiency and as a fishery management tool

Security measures

• Control centre: Physical and electronic measures
• ALC’s: security seals applied as part of the installation process

Legal framework

• South Australia Fisheries (Vessel Monitoring Scheme) Regulations 2003 under the South Australia Fisheries Act 1982. The at-sea aquaculture operation is managed under aquaculture licence condition.

Funding strategy

• Vessel owner pays for equipment purchase, installation and maintenance. Compliance is run on a cost-recovery basis; therefore, industry pays indirectly for polling costs and infrastructure costs.
• Initial base station set-up costs government funded

Staffing level

• 1 full time VMS Administrator, part time IT support staff

Anticipated growth

• Potentially VMS will expand to include other fisheries. Introduction is based on the potential benefit to compliance and fisheries management and typically has occurred in consultation with industry.