Inshore fishing for lobster and crab at Aberystwyth on the boats Quaker and PenDinas. Welsh Government. By Keith Morris.
Wales has become the first nation in the UK to make all of its licensed commercial fishing boats have monitoring devices.
Boats 12m or more in length already had to be fitted with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), but an Order coming into force today means those under this size, will have to as well.
The under 12 metre fishing fleet, which has more more than 350 boats, makes up around 97% of Welsh registered fishing vessels.
The VMS will transmit the geographical position, date, time, speed and course of a boat, at least once every 10 minutes, while fishing operations are being undertaken.
The Welsh Government says this is important in gaining a fuller and accurate picture of fishing boat activity in the Welsh zone.
It also says it will help Welsh registered boats wherever they may be, to improve fisheries and marine environment management.
A consultation began in 2019 on the requirement for the under 12m fleet and to support the fishing industry, Vessel Monitoring Systems have been offered for free to the relevant Welsh fishing fleet. However, due to European Maritime and Fisheries Fund rules, from today onwards fishers will have to purchase the devices themselves.
Free device installation began in December 2020 although no monitoring of fishing activity of the under 12m fishing fleet has been undertaken before the legislation comes into force today.
More than 98% of boats in this category have been fitted with a VMS. The installation of VMS on vessels is done in full consultation with the owner and is carried out by fully qualified engineers.
Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths said: “I am pleased Wales is the first nation in the UK to require all commercial fishing vessels which operate in Wales or the Welsh Zone are fitted with a Vessel Monitoring System.
“We want to help ensure a sustainable and prosperous fishing industry in Wales and this step will be fundamental to the effective management of fisheries and the wider marine environment.
“The implementation of the catch recording system for under 10m vessels in 2020 means we now have better information about what is being caught, and this combined with VMS will give us a fuller picture of fishing in Wales and where it is taking place.
“It will also provide the industry with evidence of their catch origin and fishing grounds which could be used to resolve any disputes with other marine users.
“We have worked closely with the industry and have offered substantial funding via the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to help prepare fishers for this new requirement.”
Boats 12m or more in length already had to be fitted with a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), but an Order coming into force today means those under this size, will have to as well.
The under 12 metre fishing fleet, which has more more than 350 boats, makes up around 97% of Welsh registered fishing vessels.
The VMS will transmit the geographical position, date, time, speed and course of a boat, at least once every 10 minutes, while fishing operations are being undertaken.
The Welsh Government says this is important in gaining a fuller and accurate picture of fishing boat activity in the Welsh zone.
It also says it will help Welsh registered boats wherever they may be, to improve fisheries and marine environment management.
A consultation began in 2019 on the requirement for the under 12m fleet and to support the fishing industry, Vessel Monitoring Systems have been offered for free to the relevant Welsh fishing fleet. However, due to European Maritime and Fisheries Fund rules, from today onwards fishers will have to purchase the devices themselves.
Free device installation began in December 2020 although no monitoring of fishing activity of the under 12m fishing fleet has been undertaken before the legislation comes into force today.
More than 98% of boats in this category have been fitted with a VMS. The installation of VMS on vessels is done in full consultation with the owner and is carried out by fully qualified engineers.
Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths said: “I am pleased Wales is the first nation in the UK to require all commercial fishing vessels which operate in Wales or the Welsh Zone are fitted with a Vessel Monitoring System.
“We want to help ensure a sustainable and prosperous fishing industry in Wales and this step will be fundamental to the effective management of fisheries and the wider marine environment.
“The implementation of the catch recording system for under 10m vessels in 2020 means we now have better information about what is being caught, and this combined with VMS will give us a fuller picture of fishing in Wales and where it is taking place.
“It will also provide the industry with evidence of their catch origin and fishing grounds which could be used to resolve any disputes with other marine users.
“We have worked closely with the industry and have offered substantial funding via the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to help prepare fishers for this new requirement.”
