Marine Management Organisation
Important update 19 May 2023
Last year, following feedback, MMO acted and commissioned independent assurance testing on Type Approved I-VMS devices. This has now been completed and we have taken the decision to continue the pause of the I-VMS device roll-out until further notice.
MMO remains confident that the roll-out programme will be able to progress, but with a reduced number of Type Approved devices.
The Fulcrum Nemo and Succorfish SC2 devices will remain Type Approved following minor fixes and independent review. The other devices, Maritime Systems MS44 and the Satlink Nano, have had their Type Approved status revoked as they did not meet assurance test thresholds.
MMO is in the process of contacting all fishers with further information based on which device has been purchased.
Product Type Approved status revoked
If you have purchased a Maritime Systems MS44 or Satlink Nano device, MMO can confirm that you will be financially supported to secure suitable, replacement devices. You will be contacted directly with more information and there is no requirement for you to take any action at this stage. We appreciate you will have questions regarding removal/replacement of devices and financial impact, and we will bring you further updates on how we can support you.
Product Type Approved status retained
If you have purchased a Fulcrum Nemo and Succorfish SC2 device (which have retained Type Approval status) you will be notified directly. Please bear with us while we work with the supplier to recommence roll-out as soon as possible. You do not need to take any further action.
Fishers who have not purchased or installed an I-VMS device
Please take no further action at this stage. Further updates will be made available as soon as possible. All suppliers have been notified and advised not to sell or install devices until further notice.
I-VMS device suppliers have already been notified of our decisions. We are currently working closely with suppliers who have retained Type Approval status to plan the next stage of the roll-out of I-VMS devices. Further updates will be shared with you as soon as possible.
Update on I-VMS legislation
The roll-out of I-VMS devices is important and will help fishers to ensure they are compliant ahead of governments upcoming legislation, which will require all commercial fishing vessels operating in English waters to be tracked, including English vessels, vessels from across the UK and all foreign vessels licensed to fish in English waters.
The introduction of legislation to make I-VMS mandatory has been delayed to account for this latest information.
Enquiries
A dedicated helpline has also been set up to help with enquiries. Call 01900 508618 Monday to Thursday 9am to 5pm and Friday 9am to 4.30pm. It will also be operating on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 May from 10am to 4pm.
Before calling, please read our updated I-VMS FAQs to see if they provide the information that you need.
What is I-VMS?
Inshore Vessel Monitoring System (I-VMS) devices are similar to the VMS tracking devices used by fishing vessels 12 metres and greater. I-VMS devices monitor inshore fishing activity to help improve the management and sustainability of our marine environment, ensure proper fishing practices and prevent illegal fishing to help protect and enhance the livelihoods of fishers.
Using GPRS mobile phone signals, I-VMS devices provide positional information (such as latitude and longitude, course, speed and date and time of each positional report) which is sent to MMOs UK VMS Hub. When a device is located outside GPRS range, the device will continue to store the positional information and submit the data once GPRS coverage next becomes available. This is different to the VMS devices used by larger vessels, which transmit data via satellite and can become expensive.
Combined with data on catch volumes, scientific evidence of stock levels and a range of other significant data, I-VMS will enable more efficient decisions on local and national management measures and policies. It will also enable the MMO to continually improve its targeted assurance activities as the clearer picture of fishing activity will help highlight which vessels are consistently complying with regulations on where and what they can fish, and those that may introduce risk to sustainable sea fisheries.
I-VMS legislation
The introduction of legislation to make I-VMS mandatory has been delayed to account for this latest information. Once legislation is in place, it will make it a legal requirement for all vessels under 12 metres in length, both domestic and foreign, to have an inshore vessel monitoring system (I-VMS) installed and transmitting data to MMO, when they are at sea in English waters. This is part of the governments strategy to improve data collection to support development of more responsive fisheries management measures and practices that will enable industry to benefit from leaving the Common Fisheries Policy.
When the legislation comes into force it will be every fishers responsibility to ensure that they have a device fitted and that it is transmitting - if a device is not fitted to the vessel and transmitting, they will not be able to fish lawfully.
Roll-out of I-VMS devices
As a responsible regulator, MMO is facilitating preparations to support industry, through Type Approval, grant funding and a staged roll-out, so that every fisher has the opportunity to be compliant.
The roll-out of I-VMS devices to the English inshore fishing fleet has been temporarily paused following the results of independent assurance testing on devices. The roll-out is being reviewed and all those requiring an I-VMS device on their vessels are being contacted directly with updates on their next steps.
Fishers who have already purchased or installed I-VMS devices that have had Type Approval status revoked will be financially supported to secure suitable, replacement devices. More information on this process will be shared directly with you.
On recommencement of the roll-out, fishers will be able to claim financial support for the cost of purchasing and installing a Type Approved product through the European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF), supported through the I-VMS grant payments system. Further updates will be shared as soon as possible.
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