Representatives from nearby island states, as well as mainland nations bordering the western Indian Ocean, are discussing how the information collected from VMS (Vessel Monitoring System), which uses satellite technology to constantly report the location fishing vessels can be used cooperatively at a regional level.
The four-day workshop, which started Tuesday at the International Conference Center, has also brought together a few international organizations involved in regional fisheries issues, namely the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission and the Indian Ocean Commission, as part of a Food and Agriculture Organization program to help developing countries implement responsible fishing practices.
Although a number of countries in the region, such as Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles, as well as South Africa and Mozambique, have either implemented VMS or are in the process of doing so, coordination is typically done at only a national level.
Officials hope that when the workshop closes on Friday October 3, multilateral arrangements calling for closer cooperation and sharing of VMS data between the invited countries will be in place.
Jude Talma, the assistant manager of monitoring, control and surveillance for the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), said that although Seychelles has one of the best VMS systems in the region, monitoring fishing vessels in the Indian Ocean would be more effective if a regional approach was adopted by the involved countries.
Talma said that VMS, albeit just one of the tools used to regulate fishing vessels, can detect not only where vessels travel, but in some cases determine whether a vessel is fishing in a prohibited area, depending on the speed and type of ship involved.
VMS has also helped the SFA in resource management, he said, as knowing where vessels are fishing can provide useful information about fish stocks in certain areas.
It has been widely accepted that illegal, unreported or unregulated fishing is increasing worldwide, said Andrew Smith, fishery technology officer with the FAO.
Smith said that in general, VMS makes monitoring fishing vessels more cost effective.
Patrolling vessels that conduct inspections with VMS assistance do not have to spend time searching for vessels, and with regard to safety, VMS can be used to quickly dispatch assistance to vessels in distress, Smith said.
Kielborn Gunnarson, representing Iceland-based Trackwell, one of four VMS companies invited to participate in the conference, said that VMS technology has been continually improving.
Gunnarson said that new developments in VMS would allow fishing authorities to gather information on a vessel’s activities more quickly, and also better oblige them to provide accurate catch reports.
Opening session of the workshop
