Government finalises satellite tracking plan for fishing boats

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has finalised a plan to place fishing boats under satellite-based monitoring through the installation of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), a move aimed at strengthening maritime security and checking illegal activity at sea.

Under the plan, the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency will supervise installation of the equipment. Before any device is fitted, all boats will be formally registered. According to the details reported, around 10,000 fishing boats from Sindh and Balochistan are to be brought into the VMS network.

In the first phase, 4,000 boats from Sindh and another 4,000 from Balochistan will be covered. The system will be installed only on boats measuring 12 metres, 39 feet, or more, as smaller vessels are not considered suitable for long-distance travel at sea.

Government to bear installation cost

The cost of each unit is estimated at between Rs100,000 and Rs150,000, and the government will bear the expense. Officials said the VMS device is being manufactured locally.

According to officials, the system will make it possible to track hundreds of boats operating at sea at the same time and monitor their movement in real time. Authorities expect it to help identify suspicious vessels, improve response time at accident sites, stop the use of harmful nets and illegal fishing practices, and monitor the smuggling of liquor, drugs and people.

Project revived after earlier delay

The project had remained pending for a long period after fishermen’s organisations raised reservations. Maritime experts described VMS as a satellite and communications-based system used internationally for vessel monitoring.

They said it records a boat’s speed, direction and movement in real time in a manner similar to an online tracking system, while also supporting enforcement of fisheries regulations.

Safety and enforcement role

According to officials, the system is also expected to serve as a safety mechanism for fishermen. In an emergency, a single-button alert would allow rescue agencies to locate a distressed boat.

The monitoring arrangement is also intended to help detect vessels operating without personal safety gear or firefighting equipment and assist authorities in curbing the nighttime distribution of banned nets from illegal jetties.

Under the law, vessels longer than 15 metres are not allowed to head into deep sea without the system.