FFA's Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) allows FFA members to track and monitor fishing activities across the region. Based at the FFA's regional headquarters, but accessible to all FFA member countries, this a satellite-based system monitors the position, speed and direction of registered fishing vessels.
For more information, please use the links below:
FFA's list of vessels in good standing with current provisions is available below.
The 2010/2011 registration period for the FFA Vessel Registration of Fishing Vessels commenced on 1 July 2010. All foreign fishing vessels wishing to obtain a national fishing license from any FFA member country must first register on the FFA Vessel Register and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) record of fishing vessels. The FFA Vessel Register procedures are additional to any National Registration and Licensing procedures required by FFA member countries.
As of 1 May 2008 FFA has changed the specifications for the type approval of units used with the FFA Vessel Monitoring System. This document outlines the changes and defines how FFA will treat the units that were approved prior to the new specifications being approved.The new specifications have been produced as a result of changes in technology and changes in the way in which VMS is used now and into the future. The new specifications harmonise with other type approval specifications in use around the world.This means FFA can take advantage of changes in technology and simplifies the process for vendors applying for type approval in other jurisdictions. The new specifications is provided in the PDF documents below.
The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) agreed in their 29th Annual Meeting held in Majuro (19-23 April 2010) to increase the VDS Register fee and apply a “Conservation Levy” to purse seine vessels operating in PNA waters, to come into effect on 1 July 2010.
The PNA Office will be notifying fishing parties/vessel operators directly regarding the increase in the VDS Register fee and the application of the “Conservation Levy” which are to come into effect on 1 July 2010, including the payment requirements for the VDS Register fee and the Conservation Levy” to be paid directly into a PNA bank account in Majuro, Marshall Islands.
The payment of the FFA Vessel Register fee of US$2,529 will be paid as normal to FFA with the application for registration.
HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, SATURDAY 27 MARCH 2010: The Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Working Group meeting closes today after five days of discussions about how to respond to illegal fishing.
37 experts from monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries from the 17 member countries and territories of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) have been discussing tools to combat illegal fishing.
Illegal fishing is difficult to estimate - but if just 10% of the skipjack catch of 1.2 million tons is taken by illegal fishing, a possible US$276 million dollars worth of fish is being stolen each year. This is a great loss for Pacific Island economies, government revenues and for the many islanders that rely on fisheries for jobs and food.
FFA REGIONAL HEADQUARTERS, HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS, FRIDAY 21 AUGUST 2009: Operation Kurukuru 2009, a coordinated maritime surveillance operation in which countries cooperate to detect activities such as illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing, smuggling and people trafficking, was hosted by FFA over 10 days.
Operation Kurukuru 2009 resulted in 21 boardings of vessels, levying of a $10,000 fine and 3 apprehensions of vessels which were escorted to port for further investigation. In Tuvalu, 1 vessel was fined USD $10,000 for misreporting of fishing catch. The 4 aircraft involved in the operation flew a total of 85 hours and covered approximately 800,000 square nautical miles.
WOLLONGONG, AUSTRALIA, 16-20 FEBRUARY 2009: The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security (ANCORS) are conducting a FFA Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) training course for FFA Members.
This training course will be conducted over a 5 day period, 16 to 20 February 2009, at the ANCORS Innovation Campus within the University of Wollongong. The course, funded by FFA, covers a wide range of subject matter and aims to further develop and prepare FFA VMS officers in their roles and responsibilities as VMS implementation officers.
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) recently signed a Service Level Agreement for FFA to develop a Vessel Monitoring System for the WCPFC, in Busan, Korea. The WCPFC will be the first regional fisheries management organisation to have a Vessel Monitoring System in place, scheduled for 2009.
PHOTO: FFA Director General Su’a N.F. Tanielu and WCPFC Executive Director Andrew Wright (seated) and FFA and WCPFC Staff at the signing ceremony for the Service Level Agreement.
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) recently signed a Service Level Agreement for FFA to develop a Vessel Monitoring System for the WCPFC, in Busan, Korea. The WCPFC will be the first regional fisheries management organisation to have a Vessel Monitoring System in place, scheduled for 2009.
PHOTO: FFA Director General Su’a N.F. Tanielu and WCPFC Executive Director Andrew Wright (seated) and FFA and WCPFC Staff at the signing ceremony for the Service Level Agreement.
