SIOFA Vessels Monitoring System

Vessel monitoring systems (VMS) are satellite-based monitoring systems that enable flag States and regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) to track and monitor the activities of fishing vessels in a defined geographical area through the transmission by fishing vessels of position data at regular intervals. The 10th Meeting of the Parties to the SIOFA (MoP10) adopted a Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) setting out the framework for the SIOFA VMS. This framework needed to be further completed through the development of Standards, Specifications and Procedures (SSPs), and the acquisition and installation of the VMS system itself. To this end, this project is supporting the establishment of the SIOFA VMS, as well as other activities and related processes. 

The General objective of the SIOFA VMS– and therefore of this project – is to enhance compliance of fishing vessels with SIOFA CMMs through the monitoring of the movement of vessels operating in the Agreement Area in an automatic, continuous, and cost-effective manner. In addition, the SIOFA VMS will assist in planning and implementing surveillance operations and/or inspections at sea, supporting search and rescue activities and safety at sea, as well as fisheries research and science. The EU is one of the Contracting Parties to the Agreement, with a few of vessels actively operating within the SIOFA Agreement Area.

Key activities of the project are:

• Establish Standards, Specifications and Procedures (SSP) for the SIOFA VMS
• Data confidentiality and security measures for the SIOFA VMS
• Determining a cost-effective and efficient hosting model for the SIOFA VMS and other operational and infrastructure  considerations
• Scoping Missions to Other RFMOs to understand the operation and Policy implications of establishing a regional (RFMO) VMS.
• Procurement and setting up of the SIOFA VMS at the Secretariat
• Building Secretariat Capacity to administer a VMS and support CCPs to fulfil their obligations under the CMM 16 (2025) on Vessel Monitoring System.
• Entry into operation of the SIOFA VMS

Key Achievements are:

• Established Standards, Specifications and Procedures (SSP) for the SIOFA VMS adopted by MoP11
• Data confidentiality and security measures for the SIOFA VMS
• Determining cost-effective and efficient hosting model for the SIOFA VMS and other operational and infrastructure  considerations
• Scoping Missions to Other RFMOs to understand the operation and Policy implications of establishing a regional (RFMO) VMS.
• Procurement and setting up of the SIOFA VMS at the Secretariat
• Updated SIOFA CMM16 (2025) on Vessel Monitoring System to improve policy and operational efficiencies of the SIOFA VMS, based on intersessional works to establish the SIOFA VMS.