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One of the main issues regarding any laws or regulations governing the fisheries is enforcement. Requiring all fishing vessels to have a GPS tracking device on board will make the regulation of fishermen and fishing companies much simpler and more effective. A tracking device will give off a signal that can be recorded by geosynchronous satellites, so the exact position of the fishing vessel can be monitored by the regulating body. It will allow regulating bodies to know which fleets are in the water and whether or not they are within legal boundaries at any given time, thus ensuring that marine protected areas and time-area closures are not being fished. Speeds of less than three knots usually indicates that the vessel is fishing, and patterns in global positioning data can also help managers determine what type of fishing strategy the vessel is using (Marshall et al, 1998).

Such a device is also capable of receiving signals via satellite. This will be essential for alerting vessels in danger and allowing fishing boats to know the whereabouts of other fishing boats in the area. We discussed earlier the need for a flexible management strategy that can be easily modified to accommodate changes in the ecosystem, and such management strategies might include a system of time and area closures. A tracking system will allow fishermen to determine their exact position and how close they are to the closed areas that are in effect that day. Additionally, the device can be programmed keep a tally on the amount of fish caught by that particular vessel and how much of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) has been caught.

There are several relevant products already on the market. Chartplotters, currently available for under $500, provide sport fishermen with information about a boat's location through an electronic navigational chart, as well as the vessel's direction and speed. Applied Satellite Technologies, Ltd., based in the United Kingdom, has also developed a line of products called Thrane & Thrane.

The GPS tracking idea is both feasible and practical. Nations are beginning to realize the benefits of such a system and have already taken steps towards implementing a system. The United States and the United Kingdom both have some form of GPS tracking system used for the regulation of their waters. In the 2000 the UK required a GPS system in every fishing vessel over 24 meters1. Three years ago they decided that fishing vessels 15 meters and longer would be required to have the GPS Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) installed, and signed a contract purchasing 750 VMS devices for fishing vessels. The devices are designed to be tamper proof in order to guarantee accurate information is transmitted. The devices provide the monitoring agency with the vessels speed, direction, position, course and destination. Allowing the regulatory agency to successfully and easily monitor and enforce oceanic law in the surrounding waters.

The United States as well has a system similar to Britain's tracking system. In New England the North East Vessel Monitoring Program monitors fishing vessels collecting not only position and velocity data but also information about the vessel's catch. The system requires the skipper of the fishing vessel to inform the central headquarters about his/her intent for that day. This includes providing course information, types species to be caught and anticipated catch size. The skipper must wait for the request to be approved before actually setting sail. The devices are required (except in special cases) to remain on in order to continuously report vessel location.2,3

The United States is currently seeking a Nation Wide Automatic Identification System (NAIS). Northrop Grumman will compete for the U.S. Coast Guards NAIS proposal. The plan is to develop a tamper proof ID system that will "continually transmit and receive voiceless exchange of vessel data, including vessel identity, position, speed, course, destination and other data of critical interest for navigation safety, marine mobility and maritime security."4 This system will allow the Coast Guard to protect closed areas, regulate the number of active fishing vessels in a certain area, with the addition of other benefits such as increased national security and boater safety.

Both the United States and the United Kingdom feel that a GPS tracking system is beneficial for the enforcement and regulation of oceanic law. They have both implemented systems that actively monitor fishing vessels and details about their activity. Other countries such as some developing African countries also feel that such a system would be beneficial to their fishing industry.5 It is clear that both large and small nations believe that this is a feasible and practical solution to the seemingly difficult task of enforcing oceanic law. The United States and United Kingdom should use their current successes with their vessel monitoring systems as an example to other countries of the success and benefits of such a system. Both countries should also outline their future plans and modifications to the VMS in order to further convince nations to adopt this solution. The United States and United Kingdom have a huge impact in foreign affairs. Using this to their advantage it is quite possible for an international system to be developed. The technology is out there, it is up to the leaders of the world to take the initiative and implement the solution.

Other countries that currently have implemented a Vessel Management System include Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, China, Malaysia, Taiwan, the Falklands Islands, Estonia, Iceland, Malta, Russia, and Spain. It is important to build off the success of existing Vessel Management Systems and help fisheries in developed nations, especially those with open access fisheries, to implement the monitoring of ships in their waters.


  1. Great Yarmouth, Englandhttp://satcomms.com/bulletins/AST%20UK%20Fishing%20Fleet.pdfAccessed November 20, 2007
  2. NOAA Fisheries Service: NE Region Fishing Industry Homepage
    http://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/fishermen/multispecies/gom/VMSRegs.htm
  3. United States Department of Commercehttp://www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/nr/nrdoc/nrphlo6/06vms_user_instructions1.pdf
  4. New Orleans LO (SPX) Oct 30, 2007 http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Northrop_Grumman_To_Compete_For_US_Coast_Guard_Nationwide_Automatic_Identification_System_999.html

--. Marine Chartplotters for at The GPS Store, Inc. Retrieved November 22, 2007, from http://www.thegpsstore.com/Chart-Plotters-C5.aspx.

Marshall, P. (1998). Fishing operations. 1. Vessel monitoring systems. Retrieved November 22, 2007, from http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/w9633e/w9633e00.HTM

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