If you are a licensed Queensland fishing vessel that is endorsed with either a T1, T2, M1 PR, N9 or B1 fishing symbol, you must install a Vessel Monitoring System on your vessel. You are required to nominate and maintain a mode of communication by which an officer approved by the Chief Executive may communicate with the person in control of the boat.
Vessel monitoring systems are used to monitor and assess the position and activity of commercial fishing vessels (mainly trawl vessels).
This includes monitoring the fishing quota (number of days at sea) that each vessel is allowed.
As well as monitoring use of fishing quota, a VMS unit can assist your commercial fishing operations by:
- speeding up the transfer of information to Fisheries Queensland
- helping you make more accurate assessments of your business's activity (particularly if you have more than 1 vessel)
- helping Fisheries Queensland identify and deal with fishing operators who act illegally
- providing location details of vessels during marine safety events.
