Inshore vessel monitoring systems (iVMS): guidance

Inshore vessel monitoring systems (iVMS) are installed on fishing vessels and transmit information to the fisheries authority. This includes the geographical position, date, time, speed and course of the vessel.

Legislation came in to force on 15 February 2022 and requires the use of VMS on all licensed under 12m fishing vessels that operate in Welsh Waters, and Welsh vessels wherever they are fishing. It is an offence to fish without a functioning iVMS device on your vessel and enforcement action could be taken.

iVMS shows us when and where fishing activity is taking place. This helps us to gain a better understanding of the scale, location and seasonality of fishing activity and aid fisheries management.

In 2019 we introduced Catch Recording for under 10m vessels. This provides us with more information about what is being caught in Welsh waters. Combining catch data with iVMS gives us a fuller picture of fishing effort and helps us to manage fishing sustainability.

iVMS provides the industry with evidence of their catch origin and fishing grounds. This could be used to resolve conflicts with other marine users and for responding to marine planning and licensing consultations.

The introduction of iVMS creates a common requirement for all UK and third country under 12 metre vessels fishing in Welsh waters and enables enforcement to operate in a more efficient and targeted manner.