Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS)
A vessel monitoring system monitors, records and transmits the location, speed and heading of a vessel. VMS is monitored by the Department’s Fisheries Officers and Marine Police for fisheries compliance purposes. The data may also be used by the Department for fisheries management purposes.
VMS is required to be used in the commercial rock lobster, giant crab, scallop and abalone fisheries.
The use of VMS in Tasmania’s commercial fisheries is determined by published ‘VMS Notice’ under rule 25 of the Fisheries Rules 2019. The VMS Notice determines which fishery or part of a fishery is required to use VMS and the make, model and type of approved VMS unit that is required to be used by that fishery.
It’s important to note that VMS is not designed to be a safety system and is not monitored for this purpose by NRE Tas or any maritime safety agency.