CCAMLR implements a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to monitor the location and activities of fishing vessels that operate inside the Convention Area.

VMS data uses

Fishing vessels provide VMS data to in relation to entry and exit from the Convention Area and movement between subareas and divisions 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).

All vessels authorised by Members to fish in the Convention Area are required to report VMS data to their Flag State which must then forward this data to the CCAMLR Secretariat. Many vessels also report VMS data directly to the CCAMLR Secretariat in near real-time.

VMS data collection

Contracting Party fishing vessels must be equipped with an automatic location communicator (ALC) to transmit VMS data. For vessels operating in new and exploratory fisheries in the Convention Area, VMS data must be provided to the CCAMLR Secretariat every hour. For all other fisheries, VMS data must be provided to the CCAMLR Secretariat every four hours, with this requirement to change to every hour commencing 1 December 2019.