By The Pulseline News Desk
The Cabinet has approved a proposal to expand Sri Lanka’s Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to cover around 1,500 multi-day and one-day fishing vessels, strengthening efforts to combat illegal fishing and enhance maritime surveillance.
The move comes amid growing global concerns over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, as well as the use of fishing vessels for activities such as drug trafficking, human trafficking and smuggling.
As a member of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), Sri Lanka is required to continuously monitor fishing vessels operating in international waters through a VMS.
At present, about 4,200 of the country’s 5,200 registered multi-day fishing vessels have been equipped with VMS devices provided under an Australian Government grant. Since 2021, all newly registered multi-day fishing vessels have been required to install the systems at the owners’ expense.
However, approximately 1,500 vessels registered before January 1, 2021 – including both multi-day and one-day fishing boats – continue to operate without VMS equipment. Around 400 of these vessels, measuring more than 34 feet in length, are capable of operating in international waters, while the remainder primarily fish in local waters.
To close this gap, the Cabinet approved a proposal by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquatic and Marine Resources to make the installation of suitable monitoring systems mandatory for the remaining vessels, with the Government bearing the cost of installation.
The measure is expected to strengthen monitoring of Sri Lanka’s fishing fleet, improve compliance with international obligations and enhance maritime security.
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