WAFIC raises concerns over mandatory VMS requirements in Australian Marine Parks
Following the consultation period last year, the Director of National Parks (Commonwealth Government) has just announced that Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) will be mandatory for all commercial fishing vessels operating in, or transiting through, an Australian Marine Park (i.e. Commonwealth Marine Parks, not State Marine Parks).
You can find more information here.
The implementation of the new VMS rules will take effect on 1 July 2024 for those fisheries already using VMS under State fisheries management requirements.
Allowances have been made for those fisheries that are not currently on VMS under State fisheries management arrangements. These fisheries will have until 1 July 2028 to comply.
This arrangement does not apply to commercial fisheries that operate within Coastal Waters (i.e. within 3nM).
Application of arrangement on WA Fisheries
The mandatory VMS requirement will apply to WA fisheries by no later than 1 July 2028.
Those fisheries already on VMS will meet the requirement on 1 July 2024, where grant funding was previously available for these fisheries for a rebate of $2,200 for the purchase of the new Automatic Location Communicator (ALC), and $2,000 towards installation costs.
For further information, please contact DPIRD’s VMS section at [email protected]
The mandatory VMS requirement will apply to all other WA fisheries which do not currently have VMS by 1 July 2028. The WA Fishing Industry Council (WAFIC) will work with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and Parks Australia (PA) to advocate for additional grant funds for these fisheries for the purchase and installation of a new VMS unit.
If you have any questions regarding when your fishery must comply with these arrangements, please contact the relevant DPIRD fisheries manager.
Data security
Parks Australia has advised WAFIC that it will only access VMS data based on legally binding data sharing agreements with DPIRD, which protects the confidentiality of fishers’ data. A data sharing agreement between DPIRD and PA will soon be developed.
WAFIC has been assured by PA that all commercial fishers’ VMS data is confidential and that they have designed processes and safeguards that respect this fundamental aspect of fishing and fisheries management.
Importantly, both DCCEEW and DPIRD have agreed for WAFIC to be involved in the development of the data sharing agreement to ensure industry has some oversight and awareness of the arrangement, and is assured their data is secure and treated with strict confidence.
For more information on data sharing agreements, please visit DCCEEW’s website here and scroll down the content.
WAFIC retains a number of potential concerns over the VMS requirements and will continue to make appropriate recommendations.
Further information
If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact WAFIC at [email protected], or DCCEEW at [email protected].