Sustainable Fisheries Management

Robust VMS and i-VMS Solutions for Compliant, Sustainable Fishing

CLS supports fishers, shipowners, fleet operators, authorities, and cooperatives in complying with regional, national, and international regulations by providing rugged, secure, marine-grade connected VMS and i-VMS beacons. Built for extreme environments, our equipment ensures reliable, continuous transmission of position and catch data.

Our VMS systems are globally recognized and approved as the reference technology for monitoring fishing activity. Designed for all vessel types—from industrial ships to motorized pirogues and artisanal boats—our solutions also accommodate a wide range of gear and fishing methods.

Today, over 18,000 vessels globally are equipped with our beacons, ensuring effective monitoring and full regulatory compliance.

Fishing Support Software:
Our Oceanographic Intelligence Solutions

Imagine quickly identifying the best fishing zones, reducing bycatch, saving fuel, lowering carbon emissions, limiting time at sea, and improving crew safety. That’s what CATSAT, our onboard oceanographic intelligence software, has provided since the 1990s to thousands of captains around the world.
Installed directly on vessels, CATSAT helps fishing professionals target the most productive zones using satellite data, advanced ocean models, and industry expertise.

The result: better trip planning, reduced fuel use, and more selective, sustainable fishing.

This service is supported by a dedicated team of scientists, oceanographers, and ecosystem modelers who develop custom tools for efficient, responsible, and lasting fisheries.

Marine Ecosystem Modeling: A Scientific Tool for Sustainable Fisheries

Since 2006, CLS has developed expertise in marine ecosystem modeling and satellite monitoring through the MEMMS (Marine Ecosystem Modelling and Monitoring by Satellite) program. The goal: to provide fisheries managers, public institutions, researchers, and private stakeholders with science-based decision-support tools.

At the core is SEAPODYM (Spatial Ecosystem And Population Dynamics Model), simulating oceanic ecosystem dynamics by integrating biological interactions and environmental conditions.
SEAPODYM models micronekton—a key group in the marine food web—as well as zooplankton. It predicts biomass and production across depth layers up to 1,000 meters.

By combining these biological variables with oceanographic parameters (temperature, currents, dissolved oxygen), SEAPODYM helps identify:

• Potential spawning areas
• Larval density zones
• Feeding grounds
• Migration corridors and aggregation areas
• Persistent hotspots for commercial species

These outputs form a robust scientific foundation for fisheries management, marine spatial planning, stock monitoring, and adapting conservation policies to environmental changes.

Electronic Catch Reporting System (ERS): A Compliant Solution for Authorities and Fishing Professionals

Electronic catch reporting (ERS) is a vital tool for controlling fishing activity and sustainably managing marine resources. By automating information collection, electronic logbooks provide near real-time monitoring, more accurate stock assessments, and greater transparency.

To support these goals, CLS delivers complete ERS solutions in compliance with EU and international standards.

Our offerings include:

• Easy-to-use onboard ERS applications
• Certified onboard beacons and devices for secure data collection and transmission
• Automated reporting of regulatory data (fishing areas, landings, species, dates, etc.)
• Reliable monitoring indicators for authorities and fleet managers

Adopted by many countries and regional fisheries organizations, our ERS solutions help ensure compliance, traceability, and sustainable governance.

Our Platforms to Combat IUU Fishing: Automated Detection, Multi-Source Correlation, and Decision Support

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing accounts for nearly 20% of global catches. It threatens marine resource sustainability, undermines legal maritime economies, and jeopardizes coastal state sovereignty.

CLS has developed advanced maritime surveillance platforms to help authorities detect, assess, and monitor suspicious activities at sea. Our solutions merge:

• AIS (Automatic Identification System): real-time ship positions
• VMS (Vessel Monitoring System): regulatory data transmitted by authorities
• Optical and radar satellite imagery: detection of non-cooperative or "dark" vessels
• Enriched behavioral databases: navigation history, risk profiles, high-alert zones

Our correlation algorithms automatically flag IUU fishing scenarios such as: no AIS/VMS signal, activity in restricted areas, undeclared transshipments, and route inconsistencies

All this is consolidated in decision-support platforms interoperable with existing fisheries monitoring systems. These interfaces allow authorities to:

• View active fleets and alerts in real time
• Analyze suspicious behavior
• Verify compliance
• Document violations and generate reports for inspections and prosecution

Today, over 90 countries rely on our solutions to strengthen marine resource protection and ensure transparent, sustainable maritime activity.