Vessel Monitoring System
Background
WCPFC3 adopted a Conservation and Management Measure for the Commission VMS (CMM 2006-06
(65.99 KB)). WCPFC4 adopted an amended CMM for the Commission VMS (CMM 2007-02 (33.2 KB)) that includes the requirement for vessels in the Convention Area to maintain VMS transmission when they move into the part of the Convention Area bounded by 20°N and 175°E (the area for which a VMS implementation date has yet to be established) from elsewhere in the Convention Area.
In December 2008, a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with FFA for the provision of the WCPFC VMS services was formalised. The WCPFC VMS came into operation on April 1, 2009.
The contracted system that provides VMS information to the FFA VMS and the WCPFC VMS systems is referred to as the “Pacific VMS”. The WCPFC has approximately 1,500 WCPFC-registered vessels that report to the WCPFC VMS through the Pacific VMS. In addition the WCPFC VMS receives, through the SLA with FFA, high seas VMS information relating to FFA-registered vessels.
WCPFC9 agreed to a Statement describing Purpose and Principles of the WCPFC VMS ( 424.21 KB)
Operative Conservation and Management Measure
The current CMM for the Commission VMS was adopted at WCPFC8 and is Conservation and Management Measure for the Commission VMS ( 69.02 KB).
Standards Specifications and Procedures (SSPs)
WCPFC5 adopted the Standards Specifications and proccedures (SSPs) for the fishing vessel monitoring system (VMS) of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). (87.12 KB) WCPFC9 adopted an amendment to the SSPs related to the reporting timeframes for manual reporting in the event of ALC malfunction (361.2 KB) ; this amendment applies from 1 March 2013 - 1 March 2014. A standard reporting format for these manual reports was also agreed (277.09 KB)
WCPFC list of approved Mobile Transceiver Units (MTU)/Automatic Location Communicators (ALC)
Paragraph 2.6 of the Commission VMS SSPs states, “In preparing the initial list of approved ALCs, the WCPFC Secretariat will take into account lists approved by existing regional and sub-regional VMS programmes, and lists approved by CCMs.” An initial list of approved Mobile Transceiver Units (MTU)/Automatic Location Communicators (ALC) was prepared by the WCPFC Secretariat on 19 June 2009.
Paragraph 2.7 of the Commission VMS SSPs states, "The Secretariat will assess proposals for inclusion of additional ALC makes and models on this list from both CCMs and equipment manufacturers. Approval of ALCs such requests will be based on assessments of ALCs against minimum standards for the Commission VMS as set out in Annex 1 of CMM 2007-02, WCPFC SSPs, as relevant, and using the methodology established by the FFA with expenses for type approval processing to be borne by the proposing entity." The last update of the list of approved MTU/ALCs, which includes submissions by CCMs, was on 10 June 2013. MTU/ALC Type Approval List - 10 June 2013 ( 109.86 KB)
Commissions VMS Standard Operating Procedures
In accordance with paragraph 6.9 of the Commission VMS SSPs the Commission VMS Standard Operating Procedures ( 899.25 KB), were elaborated, and approved by the Commission at WCPFC6 (2009).
Form to be used to registering a vessel on the Commission VMS (VTAF)
For each fishing vessel that is required to report to the Commission VMS the flag CCM will submit all necessary data indicated in the Vessel Tracking Agreement Form (VTAF) ( 36.49 KB).
List of all the Members whose waters are included in the Commission’s VMS
WCPFC9 agreed to a decision related to the application of the Commission VMS solely to waters under the jurisdiction of Members and to complement and support Members’ national VMS (80.82 KB)
The following table provides the list of WCPFC Members whose waters are included in the Commission VMS, which is maintained by the Secretariat in accordance with the WCPFC9 decision:
| WCPFC MEMBER | DATE REQUEST WAS RECEIVED | DATE INCLUSION OF NATIONAL WATERS BECAME EFFECTIVE | AREAS OF NATIONAL WATERS INCLUDED |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand* |
23 Feb 2010 (Tokelau was activated on 22 Aug 2012) |
Waters under the national jurisdiction of New Zealand, which includes the Tokelau EEZ. | |
| Cook Islands* | 14 May 2010 |
Waters under the national jurisdiction of Cook Islands |
|
| Niue* | 1 Jan 2013 | Waters under the national jurisdiction of Niue | |
| United States of America | 16 January 2013 | 9 March 2013 | The national waters of the United States (comprising the EEZ areas around the Hawaiian Islands, Kingman Reef and Palmyra Atoll, Johnston Atoll, Wake Island, Jarvis Island, Howland and Baker Islands, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Aleutian Islands and Alaska Peninsula west of 150 degrees west longitude, and the portion of the EEZ around American Samoa). |
| Australia | 13 February 2013 | 15 March 2013 | The national waters of the Australia (comprising the EEZ areas around the Australia mainland and islands, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Macquarie Island, Norfolk Island, Heard and McDonald) |
| Federated States of Micronesia | 5 March 2013 | 4 April 2013 | FSM’s national waters |
| France | 14 May 2013 | 13 June 2013 | Waters under the jurisdiction of France around New Caledonia |
| France | 20 May 2013 | 16 June 2013 |
Waters under the jurisdiction of France around French Polynesia Waters under the jurisdiction of France around Wallis and Futuna |
*These three Members had their national waters included in the Commission VMS in accordance with previous WCPFC decisions.