Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)

The  use of  automated  satellite-linked  vessel monitoring  systems  (VMS) is  required  for vessels operating in the Convention Area as per Conservation Measure (CM) 10-04. All  vessels  licensed to  fish  in the  CAMLR  Convention Area are required to regularly report VMS data to their Flag State Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC). Most vessels also report VMS data directly to the Secretariat in real time.

Contracting Party fishing vessels must be equipped with an automatic location communicator (ALC) to transmit VMS data hourly while the vessel is operating within the Convention Area. VMS data is also utilised for surveillance activities undertaken by Members inside the Convention Area and for the verification of information provided through the Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS).

Additionally, since   2013,  CCAMLR   has   maintained arrangements   with  the   five   Maritime Rescue Coordination  Centres (MRCCs)  (Argentina,  Australia, Chile,  New  Zealand, and  South  Africa) responsible  for  Antarctica and  its  surrounding waters.  The  arrangements allow  for  the Secretariat to  provide  VMS data  and  vessel contact  details  in response  to  search and  rescue  (SAR) incidents when requested by the respective MRCCs as authorised by CM 10-04.