Inshore Vessel Monitoring (I-VMS) for under-12 metre fishing vessels registered in England
Guidance to assist fishers understand how and when I-VMS will be delivered in English waters, how it may affect them, their responsibilities, and the steps they need to consider.
Important update – 3 April 2024
With industry now well-prepared, Defra has confirmed to MMO, that drafting of the new legislation which will require all under-12 metre vessels fishing in English waters to have an operational inshore vessel monitoring system (I-VMS) device, is in final stages.
The exact schedule for laying this new law is due in the coming weeks and will be published on this page once available.
The I-VMS roll-out programme closed in December 2023, with over 80% of the English under-12 metre inshore fleet purchasing a device and claiming back £1.3 million of European Maritime & Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for purchase and installation costs. Of those purchasing a device, almost all have now been installed.
Purchasing a device is the first step in preparing for this new legislation. Arranging the installation of devices is now a priority for those yet to do so. This is for several reasons:
- To meet an EMFF requirement for devices to be installed and operational within 90 days of payment, as outlined in the scheme’s terms and conditions, which fishers agreed to when applying for a grant
- To avoid appointment delays due to increased demand on suppliers and their engineers
- To ensure vessels are compliant with requirements and can be used for commercial fishing once the legislation comes into force.
Letters are being issued to any fishers claiming an EMFF grant who are yet to arrange the installation of their device, and further guidance is below, along with updated FAQs.
Act now
Devices should only be installed by suppliers and/or their approved engineers. As there is a short window of time between now and when we expect the new legislation to come into effect, please arrange installation of your device with your supplier and/or their engineers now.
If you are unable to arrange the installation of your device due to exceptional circumstances, you have a responsibility to contact MMO to evidence this immediately, using the contact details below.
While you do not need to submit data to MMO in advance of the legislation, you should not attempt to turn off or interfere with your I-VMS device yourself. Any damage or manual interference could void your device warranty and the terms and conditions of any EMFF funding awarded, which may generate further investigatory action. We advise you to speak to your device supplier if you would like to temporarily stop data transmissions to MMO.
If you are yet to purchase a device, please contact suppliers immediately to discuss the best option for your needs and arrange installation of your preferred device.
Our dedicated helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, by calling 01900 508618, or you can email our I-VMS Engagement and Support team at ivms@marinemanagement.org.uk.
What is I-VMS?
Inshore Vessel Monitoring System (I-VMS) devices are similar to the VMS tracking devices used by fishing vessels of 12 metres and greater. I-VMS devices monitor inshore fishing activity by under-12 metre vessels, 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 MMO’s 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 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 is expected to come into force in 2024, in the form of a statutory instrument (SI). Once this legislation is in place, it will be 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 government’s 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 fisher’s 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.
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 before the new legislation is introduced.
Legal measures
Fishers that are subject to existing legislation requiring the operation of an I-VMS device, either under IFCA or Welsh Government legislation, should take action immediately to arrange an I-VMS device for your vessel if you haven’t already.
Type approved devices
Following independent testing, two I-VMS devices are type approved by MMO for use by English licenced vessels fishing in English waters: Fulcrum NEMO and Succorfish SC2.
Each vessel will need to have its own I-VMS device installed and devices cannot be removed from the vessel unless for repair, which needs to be arranged through your supplier and their approved engineer.
Devices should only be installed by suppliers and/or their approved engineers. Fishers should not attempt to install devices themselves and any damage or manual interference could void the device warranty. Please speak to the device supplier if you would like to temporarily stop data transmissions to MMO before the new legislation comes into effect, due in 2024.
Full supplier and device details can be found on the type approved devices page of gov.uk.
Financial support
The claims window for European Maritime & Fishers Fund (EMFF) grants to assist fishers with purchase and installation costs has now closed. Any fishers yet to purchase a device will need to cover the costs themselves.
As part of the terms and conditions agreed to when applying for a European Maritime & Fishers Fund (EMFF) grant, there is a requirement for devices to be installed and operational within 90 days of the grant payment. More information is available in the newly updated FAQs.
If you purchased a device during the roll-out programme, before 31 December 2023, and have any questions about grant applications or the EMFF conditions, please contact our grants team by phoning 0330 041 6579 or emailing ukfisheriessupport@marinemanagement.org.uk.
Read more about the European Maritime & Fisheries Fund (EMFF) for I-VMS, including the full terms and conditions.
Contact us
Our dedicated helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, by calling 01900 508618, or you can email our I-VMS Engagement and Support team at ivms@marinemanagement.org.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please read our updated FAQs for further information.
Privacy Notice
Data transmitted to MMO before the legislation comes into force will only be accessible to the MMO Fisheries Monitoring Centre and other MMO teams. At this stage data will only be used by MMO to support compliance assurance preparation activities. I-VMS data will only be used by MMO for enforcement in line with the new legislation, once it is in effect.
Data will be shared with those enforcement agencies that have a statutory obligation to collect data such as Devon & Severn IFCA and Welsh Government.
Last updated 29 January 2024 + show all updates
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Update to "Type approved devices" section
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Update 18 January 2024
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7 December update
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Small amends
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25 October update
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FAQ update
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FAQs updated.
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I-VMS update 16/08
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FAQ updated
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FAQ Update
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IVMS update
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Added - Important update - 19 June 2023
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Update as at 19 May 2023, following outcome of independent assurance testing.
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Updated to include link to announcement of independent test results - 18 May 2023
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25 April 2023 update.
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April 20 2023 update
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Update 01 December 2022.
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November update 2022
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I-VMS privacy policy 21/10/2022
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August update
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Friday 22 July update
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Update on Maritime Systems Ltd test transmissions.
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Industry update - Data transmission issue - Maritime Systems Ltd - June 1 2022
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Page updated with privacy statement
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Updates to page following reinstatement of Maritime systems to approved device list
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I-VMS updates to page
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First published.