China is using CLS to monitor 100 further fishing vessels
 

 

In order to harmonise international regulations for marine resource management and demonstrate that its fishing industry is responsible, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture has decided to establish a system of satellite tracking for fishing vessels in various stages. By 1 October 2009 the 700 vessels involved should have been fitted out. China is once again relying on CLS,which it has asked to equip another 100 boats.

Two years ago, Chinese authorities implemented a satellite positioning system for factory ships (either longline or purse seiners), which freeze and prepare on the spot fish like tuna. As part of this CLS had already equipped 100 Chinese vessels with Argos tracking beacons. Now, CLS is equipping 100 further vessels.
They fish in the ten most sensitive fishing areas, including Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone. This regulation also applies to tuna longliners and vessels fishing for squid in the Pacific.
In addition, it includes the fishing vessels exploiting the seas of the Indian Ocean, trawlers and herring fishermen in the northwest Pacific and finally trawlers fishing in the international waters of the Atlantic.

CLS is processing data from these vessels, enabling the Chinese authorities to:

• locate them wherever they are at all times
• ensure that they are following good fishing practice and complying with regulations.
• receive messages on shore, such as alerts when one of the vessels enters or leaves a pre-defined area.