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1. About I-VMS

1.1 Why is I-VMS being introduced?听

• Vessel monitoring is a tool that will enable a better understanding of scale, location, and seasonality of fishing activity. This additional information combined with other fisheries data will grow our understanding of fishing and will assist in quota negotiations and marine spatial planning as well as allowing us to identify and respond more swiftly to new issues.
• Data about the location, scale, and seasonality of fishing effort from the majority of English fishers will also provide industry and regulators with more powerful information they can use when presenting their case for example in planning consents for marine development, fisheries management, or resolution of gear conflict issues with other marine users.
• Coupled with the outputs from our fisheries assurance service MMO will also be able to better target our risk-based, intelligence-led assurance and inspections activities. In time, it may enable steps towards a lighter touch for fishers who demonstrate a consistently high level of compliance.
• It will enable more precise delineation between fishing grounds and protected areas meaning a better balance between keeping fishing grounds open and protecting sensitive marine habitats and species can be established.
• It will enable improved control of non-English vessels in English waters as the current requirement is for all under-12m vessels to carry a vessel monitoring device.
• Vessel monitoring could increase safety for smaller vessel operators as it could provide timely and accurate detail to inform search and rescue efforts if necessary.

1.2 Which vessels does I-VMS apply to?听听

I-VMS will be a requirement for any English under-12m vessel undertaking a trip to sea from 12 May 2025. This is part of a new licence condition introduced to support English fishers be prepared ahead of statutory legislation, expected to be laid by government later this year.听听

Please note:听

• It is already a legal requirement to have a fully functioning I-VMS device on board if you are operating in Devon & Severn IFCA鈥檚 district, in accordance with a mobile fishing permit. If you need more information, please contact Devon & Severn IFCA at听[email protected]听or 01803 8546478.
• The Welsh Government also has a legal requirement for I-VMS to be operating on boats fishing in Welsh waters.听 Please contact the Welsh Government Fisheries department for further information:听[email protected]听or telephone 03000 258907 / 03000 258923.

Once the statutory instrument is laid, I-VMS will be mandatory for all UK and non-UK under-12m vessels operating in English waters. By 鈥楨nglish waters鈥� this means the English section of the UK EEZ.

听2. Type approved devices, suppliers and installation听

2.1 Where can I find information about I-VMS devices type-approved by MMO?听听

Supplier and device details are available on听our list of type approved devices guidance page.

Guidance for purchasing and installing a type-approved I-VMS device is available on the I-VMS guidance page.

2.2 Can I use another tracking device instead of an MMO type-approved I-VMS device?

No. All English under-12m vessels must operate with an MMO type-approved I-VMS device to be compliant with the licence condition and the incoming legislation.

Vessels from other nationalities are not bound to this requirement, providing their device has been endorsed and recognised by their fisheries authority. The device must provide the same level of data, accuracy and performance to the UK VMS Hub when operating in English waters. AIS will not be accepted.

2.3 What should I do if I already have a device fitted to my vessel that is no longer type-approved?

You must purchase and install a type-approved device.

Do not attempt to uninstall your existing device yourself. The engineer who installs your replacement device will uninstall and safely dispose of your old device.听

Research the type-approved devices to consider which will best suit your vessel and needs, placing an order as soon as possible. Suppliers can advise you on the options for your vessel type.听听听

Supplier and device details are available on听our list of type approved devices guidance page.

听2.4 If I own more than one vessel, can I buy one I-VMS device and transfer it to the vessel I intend to operate with?

No. Each vessel will need to have its own I-VMS device installed. I-VMS devices cannot be removed from the vessel unless for repair, which needs to be arranged through your supplier and their approved engineer.

You should not attempt to install, fix or remove a device yourself and any damage or manual interference could void your device warranty and the terms and conditions of any EMFF funding awarded, which may generate further investigatory action.

听2.5 What do I need to consider when selling or buying an under-12m vessel?

Read the full guidance under the buying, selling and ownership changes section of the I-VMS licence condition requirements page.

If you are selling a vessel and purchased an I-VMS device with an EMFF grant that has been installed for less than three years, you must inform the MMO Grants team : call 0330 041 6579 or email听[email protected]

听3. Financial support听

听3.1 Is there any funding support available?听

No. Grants of up to 拢1,050 (per vessel) were available to support fishers with purchase and installation costs through the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund until 31 December 2023. This scheme has now closed.

Any costs associated with the purchase, installation or maintenance of I-VMS devices is the responsibility of the vessel owner.

3.2 I received an EMFF grant payment and have a question - who do I contact?

If you purchased a device with an EMFF grant, please contact our grants team by phoning 0330 041 6579 or emailing [email protected], or by viewing the EMFF grants information online.

4.听I-VMS data and legislation听听

4.1 Why has it taken so long to bring this legislation into effect?

It was anticipated that I-VMS legislation would come into force in 2024. The calling of the parliamentary elections that took place in July 2024, restricted the conduct of government business, including the laying of the I-VMS legislation, which then became a decision for the new government.

Working closely with the new government, DEFRA and suppliers, MMO is moving forward with I-VMS for the benefit of both fishers and fisheries management.

4.2 When will it become a legal requirement to have an I-VMS device installed and transmitting?听

I-VMS will be a requirement, under a licence condition, for any English under-12m vessel undertaking a trip to sea from 12 May 2025

MMO expects new legislation, a statutory instrument, to come into force later in 2025.听听

4.3 Do I have to transmit any data before the legal requirement?听听

Data will need to be transmitted during installation to verify it has been installed, is operational and able to transmit I-VMS data correctly.听听

While there is no legal requirement to transmit data to us until the licence condition comes into force, we do encourage you to do so you can be confident your device is working as expected.

If you previously asked your device supplier to temporarily stop data transmissions to MMO, you should now contact them to restart the transmissions.

You should not attempt to turn off or interfere with your I-VMS device yourself. Any damage or manual interference could void your device warranty and the terms and conditions of any grant funding awarded, which may generate further investigatory action.

4.4 Who will have access to my data?听听

Any data voluntarily shared with MMO before the licence condition comes into effect will only be accessible to:

• MMO Fisheries Monitoring Centre and other MMO teams for testing purposes to allow us to check the systems and devices are in working order.
• Enforcement agencies with a statutory obligation to collect data such as Devon & Severn IFCA and Welsh Government.

Once the licence condition comes into effect on 12 May 2025, I-VMS data will then be accessible to all UK Fisheries Administrations and other agencies including Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCA). At that point, the data can be used to monitor compliance and inform evidence-based decision-making for fisheries management. A new privacy notice will be published on this guidance page nearer the time.听

You can read a copy of the current notice on听the MMO personal information charter section of 188体育.

Your personal information including location information will not be accessible to other fishers or the public.听

4.5 When will my data be used for enforcement purposes?听

I-VMS data can be used for enforcement purposes once the licence condition comes into effect on 12 May 2025.

Prior to that date, I-VMS data can only be used to support MMO with its preparation activities. 听

4.6 What happens if there is an issue with my I-VMS device - can I go to sea?听

If you notice that your I-VMS device is not operating correctly, it is your responsibility to contact your device supplier immediately and work with them to resolve it. If you have any concerns, you can also contact us by emailing 鈥�[email protected]鈥痺ith details of the issue and the vessel it relates to.听听

If MMO detects any issues with your device, we will contact you and provide appropriate guidance at that time.

听5. Contact details听

听5.1 Who do I contact if I have further questions about I-VMS?

Contact the I-VMS Support & Engagement team for general I-VMS information on听[email protected]听or 01900 508618 from Monday to Friday, 9am 鈥� 5pm.听

You can also visit or call your local coastal office during office hours.听

Find more information online at:听听

听5.2 Who can I ask for guidance about I-VMS devices and packages?听听

Contact the suppliers directly to discuss your requirements.

Fulcrum:听听

• Website:听听
• Contact telephone number: +44 (0)1708 788400听听

Succorfish:听听

• Website:听听
• Contact telephone number: +44 (0)1914 476883听听

List of type approved devices:听/guidance/list-of-i-vms-type-approved-devices-for-under-12-metre-english-vessels