Compliance monitoring programs

Compliance use a range of tools to gather intelligence and conduct routine surveillance, such as vessel monitoring systems (VMS) to get real time position reports from commonwealth fishing vessels in the AFZ.

Compliance monitoring programs include the use of:

• Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS)
• Prior-to-landing Reports
• Catch Disposal Records
• Fish Receiver Records

Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS)

Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) consist of three main components:

• the tracking unit on the vessel also known as the ‘Automatic Location Communicator' (ALC);
• the transmission medium – Inmarsat C or D+ satellite; and
• the base station.

The AFMA VMS is based on ALCs with a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) fitted to each vessel nominated against a Commonwealth fishing concession. These ALCs transmit data on vessel position, course and speed via Inmarsat communications satellites to a land earth station (LES) in Europe . The data is then transferred via a ‘virtual private network' (VPN) Internet link to the AFMA head office in Canberra . AFMA can initiate reports from vessels at any time as required via remote access.

A personal computer (PC) or data terminal is required to be connected to the ALC. This allows for two-way communications between AFMA and the vessel. In addition it provides a vessel operator with secure communication to other similarly fitted vessels, or any fax, telex machine or email.

At AFMA, vessel tracks are displayed as plots on a digitised marine chart and can be automatically cross referenced against spatial rules set in fisheries management plans. The system can be used:

• in quota managed fisheries to enable compliance with different quotas in different zones;
• to assist in the monitoring of catches against competitive quotas; and
• in the monitoring of closures in input managed fisheries.

The VMS has numerous applications, many of which are still emerging as fisheries management arrangements become more sophisticated. In many instances, fishery businesses have been quick to place computer terminals on-board vessels to enable land-based concession holders to maintain firm lines of communication with the vessel and crew. Safety measures associated with the system have also been recognised and appreciated by vessel operators.

Through the use of sophisticated base station software, any fishing vessel activity of interest can trigger a variety of pre-programmed alerts to instigate a Short Message Service (SMS) text to any relevant Compliance Officer via their digital mobile phone 24 hours a day.

VMS information for industry

Prior-to-landing Reports

In the Commonwealth Trawl Sector, Gillnet Hook and Trap Sector and Area E East Coast Tuna Fishery, fishing operators are required to advise AFMA one to four hours before arriving in port, of their catch of certain species and planned port destination.

This commits operators to a certain level of reported catch and enables Fisheries Officers to get to the port in time to check the unloading, if they consider it warranted. Prior-to-landing reports are made by mobile phone to a commercial pager answering service, which forwards the information on to AFMA and fisheries officers in the region.

Fishing operators receive a receipt number from the phone operator, which provides to show they have complied with the requirement. Fisheries Officers pinpoint their efforts where they will be most effective, with minimum time wastage. Operators who do not comply, risk generating another level of evidence, which may be part of a wider investigation and prosecution for an offence. The prior to landing system is mostly used in quota managed fisheries.

Catch Disposal Records

On landing, the fishing permit or Statutory Fishing Right (SFR) holder, or a nominated authorised person, has to complete a form detailing the species caught and their accurate weight. Depending on the fishery, operators also may have to record the number of boxes of each fish consigned and usually the processing state (wholeweight, headed, gilled/gutted etc) in which the fish were landed and the number of shark carcasses. The document must be completed within 50 metres of the point of landing of the fish.

The fishing operator retains a copy of the completed (and signed) form, forwards the original to AFMA and forwards the remaining two copies with the fish to the fish receiver. The first fish receiver must hold a Fish Receiver permit.

On arrival at the first fish receiver, the fish must be weighed and the fish receiver (who may be a processor, retailer or fish market) must record the species and weights (and shark carcass numbers) and sign the copy of the form consigned by the concession holder with the fish. The receiver forwards a copy to AFMA and retains the third copy on the premises, where it may be inspected if required.

Forms are mailed to AFMA and entered onto our fishery database. AFMA integrates the catch information with records of quota entitlements and provide periodic updates to management and industry on the remaining quota available. Catch disposal records may also be used for non-quota fisheries. In these cases detailed information is required on landed catches for stock assessment or other purposes.

Fish Receiver Records

For compliance monitoring purposes, AFMA works co-operatively with State/Territory fisheries compliance organisations to implement and maintain a National Docketing System. This requires all points in the marketing chain to maintain a record of fish purchased or sold, including details of to whom the fish were purchased or sold. Product movements can therefore be tracked beyond the first receiver, if necessary, and an audit process can be implemented if required.

Fish receivers who are the first point of receipt of fish in designated fisheries are required to be registered and to maintain a record of fish received from operators in those fisheries and to make that record available on request to Fisheries Officers. In the case of quota fisheries, fishing operators may only consign fish in the first instance to a registered fish receiver and the fish receiver must weigh the fish and complete the documentation.

There are no constraints on who may be registered as a fish receiver, nor on to whom the fish may be consigned once they have passed through the initial receiver.

Page last updated 22 October, 2007