CLS, your first choice for the sustainable management of marine resources

The world is currently facing severe degradation of marine ecosystems and a continual reduction in the biomass. CLS offers a total solution, adaptable to all fishery policies, with the aim of preserving fish stocks and managing them in an economically sustainable manner. This solution consists of a modular and flexible software system providing access to a wide range of services based on the latest space technologies. This product is the result of twenty years of close collaboration with the government authorities responsible for the fishing industry. It is intended for use as part of a carefully planned, sustainable and responsible fisheries management programme. This decision aid tool brings together expertise, advice, technical solutions and services in four main areas:

• Administering a managed fishery programme
  The first stage in implementing a sustainable marine resources management policy is the deployment of a satellite-based system for monitoring and managing fisheries, called a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). Fishing licences are issued to fi shermen on condition that they install and activate a satellite location beacon on board their vessel. The data transmitted by the beacon (location and fi shing report) is used to monitor fi shing activity from land. CLS has developed a range of equipment suited to both industrial and small-scale fi shing. In addition to monitoring applications, CLS also supplies a service to estimate catch effort on the basis of VMS data. This provides governments with statistics that are both dynamic and reliable.
  
  Reference: 12 000 vessels in over 60 countries have installed CLS equipment.
  
  
• The fight against illegal, undeclared and unregulated fishing
  The use of VMS enables the identifi cation of licensed vessels carrying a transmitter. By superimposing VMS data on satellite radar images provided by CLS, it is possible to detect vessels fi shing illegally. CLS also offers a range of shore-based radar systems using operating principle, together with an Automatic Identifi cation System (AIS) solution for managing in-shore activity.
  CLS has also developed receiver systems enabling patrol vessels and reconnaissance aircraft to access VMS data transmitted by fi shing vessels directly. This solution, together with the oceanographic data used to defi ne patrol areas, increases the effectiveness of control operations at sea and reduces their cost.
  
  Reference: French Ministry of Transport, Defence and Overseas Territories.
  
  
• Modelling marine ecosystems and implementing a fisheries management programme
  In order to improve the defi nition of fi sheries management policies, CLS has developed of marine ecosystems models from the base of the food chain (plankton) to the population dynamics of exploited or protected species. These models simulate changes to the total ecosystem in response to climate change and fi shing pressures. They may also be used to analyse the impact of fi sheries management or specie conservation programmes (definition of protected marine areas, etc.). These decision aids assist fi shery managers in the preparation of appropriate seasonal or annual regulations, urgent conservation measures, and long-term fisheries management programmes.
  
  Reference: Pacific Community Secretariat
  
  
• Assisting the development of local fisheries
  In order to minimise the social impact of conservation measures implemented as part of a managed exploitation programme and to guarantee the future of the industry, CLS offers a range of oceanographic and meteorological charts for use by government authorities. This data, processed and checked by a group of sixty internationally recognised oceanographers and interpreted by a team of local experts, enables governments to assist fishermen as they set out from port (identifi cation of favourable fi shing areas, meteorological forecasts, etc.) with the aim of enabling them to fi sh more effi ciently while keeping within the regulations.
  
  Reference: The Seychelles fi shing authorities
  
  

News:

• 10-2009: China is using CLS to monitor 100 further fishing vessels
• 06-2008: CLS has been chosen by ICCAT to execute a bluefin monitoring program for the Eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean sea.

Learn more about our products for administering a managed fishery program and assisting the development of local fisheries: http://www.argonet-vms.com http://www.cls-halios.net Learn more about our products for modelling marine ecosystems: http://www.cls.fr/memms Learn more about our services for combating illegal fishing: http://www.vigisat.eu/html/services_en.html