THE Ministry of Agriculture announced yesterday, that in an effort to enhance the fisheries surveillance and enforcement capabilities, it has implemented the vessel monitoring system (VMS) on all marine craft plying their trade at sea. 

Such a collaborative effort, by the Fisheries Department and the Guyana Association of Trawler Owners and Seafood Processors, is another step closer to having the industry certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
The VMS is a satellite-based positional tracking method, with devices consisting of a Global Positioning System (GPS) and a satellite data transmitter that provides information on vessel name, location and activity.
The MSC certification contributes to the health of the world’s oceans by recognising and rewarding sustainable fishing practices, the ministry said.
Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, in an invited comment, stated that it will significantly aid the fisheries sector as better monitoring of vessels and accountability will now be more evident.
However, he cautioned vessel operators to comply with the new standard, so as to ensure a more even playing field, as products using the MSC labels have more advantages in the global market.
The installation of the VMS units on fishing vessels is one of the major activities the Fisheries Department is seeking to have further advanced in 2014.
To date, the Ministry of Agriculture is in receipt of all the VMS units, however, only 30 of them have been installed on sea bob shrimp vessels.

Currently ongoing
Negotiations are currently ongoing with the National Frequency Management Unit (NFMU) to have the remainder released and subsequently installed on fishing vessels.
“We are, therefore, calling on all fishing vessels to be outfitted with VMS units before they are licensed for next year. Such a move will aid in traceability of the catch, as well as the surveillance efforts of the Fisheries Department,” Minister Ramsammy said.
He added that the implementation of the VMS will also assist the Fisheries Department to monitor fishermen and make sure they are in compliance with the Harvest Control Rule (HCR).
The HCR determines the amount of days a vessel is permitted to fish for a year in order to assure the resource is sustainably harvested.
“Another area for development is boundaries. Presently, negotiations are being done to have fathom lines enforced. Once this is done, there will be boundary levels where sea bob or prawns vessels are allowed to catch. This is to ensure survival of recruits in order to replenish the stocks,” Minister Ramsammy said.