User needs VMS data for scientific purposes North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission FAO HQ 26 November 2001

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November NEAFCConvention Area and RegulatoryArea

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November The NEAFC VMS system Objective: Increasing the efficiency of inspections, control and enforcement Objective: Increasing the efficiency of inspections, control and enforcement Introduced in 1999 and the data base has been built up since then. The number of messages has recently been around 400,000 annually from around 500 vessels Introduced in 1999 and the data base has been built up since then. The number of messages has recently been around 400,000 annually from around 500 vessels The number of messages will increase because it has been decided to increase reporting frequency for positions from every 2 hours to every hour. It includes weekly or daily catch reports from vessels. The number of messages will increase because it has been decided to increase reporting frequency for positions from every 2 hours to every hour. It includes weekly or daily catch reports from vessels.

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November Distribution of information for MSC n The Secretariat VMS database will make available information concerning fishing vessel activity and catch to other Contracting Parties, with inspection presence in the Regulatory Area 24/7 the year around n Information concerning inspection activities are transmitted from the inspecting Contracting Party to flag States and to the Secretariat. n There are strict rules concerning security and confidentiality.

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November North atlantic standards n The basics the same as in NAFO, n The basics the same as in NAFO, NAF format and international standards a s: u u International Radio Call Sign of a vessel as the main identifier. u u FAO Species Code for reporting catches u u UTC for timings u u WGS-84 for position datum u u ISO character code u u ISO alpha country code n n The messages are kept as short and compact as possible, which is important when the messages are transmitted from fishing vessels n n Number of mandatory fields are kept to minimum n n All basic information for each vessel are kept in the data base and linked by the vessels main identifier

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November Some find NAF is very old fashioned, XML will solve all problems Some find NAF is very old fashioned, XML will solve all problems XML is an industry approved standard and will allow a wide range of data exchange, but XML will also need definition of data elements and programming Norwegian experiments have shown that NAF can be used for electronic logbooks One thing is messages from a vessel to an FMC, another is information exchanged between systems The NAF system is robust and it is possible to use the basic elements of NAF with XML. The problem is the length of the message. Short message could be bogged down by large headings in XML and this may affect costs of transmitting messages. NEAFC, NAF and XML

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November Data transmitted by vessels are prone to errors and the quality control by FMCs is patchy. Some FMCs do use features built into the system for data control, others do not. This affects their usefulness in scientific analysis The other problems is that scientist ask for other data that are not important for inspectors. More about that later The vessel information in the data base may inform about the problems Scientific use of VMS data Quality Control

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November Notification Data Element:Code:M/O:Remarks: Start Record SR MIndicates start of the record Address AD MDestination, XNE for NEAFC From FR MISO-3 code of the transmitting Contracting Party Record Number RN MSerial Number in current year Record Date RD MDate of transmission Record Time RT MTime of transmission Type of Message TM MMessage type, NOT as Notification Vessel Name NA MName of the vessel Radio call sign RC MInternational radio call sign of the vessel Flag State FS MState where the vessel is registered CP Int. Reg. N° IR O1Unique CP vessel N° as ISO-3 code + number Ext. Reg. N° XR MSide number of the vessel Port Name PO OPort of registration or home port Vessel Owner VO M2Responsible for using the vessel Vessel Charterer VC M2Responsible for using the vessel Vessel Type VT OFAO vessel code Vessel Gear GE OFAO statistical classification of fishing gear Vessel Capacity VT Vessel capacity in pairs as needed measurement method MOC = Oslo convention 1947 LC = London convention ICTM-69 LC = London convention ICTM-69 tonnage MTotal capacity in tonnage Vessel Length VL Length in meters in pairs as needed measurement method MOA = overall; PP = between perpendiculars length Mlength in meters Vessel Power VP Engine power in pairs as needed measurement method MkW or HP power Mtotal installed engine power Limited Authorization LU OAuthorization subject to specific restrictions or operation in the R.A., Yes or No End of Record ER MIndicates end of the record

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November Most fisheries jurisdictions attempt through statistics and sampling systems to get a complete picture of the activities of fishing vessels. It seems natural that VMS data primarily for MSC purposes are used in this process also Most fisheries jurisdictions attempt through statistics and sampling systems to get a complete picture of the activities of fishing vessels. It seems natural that VMS data primarily for MSC purposes are used in this process also VMS mapping generates a spatially and temporal explicit view of fisheries activity mostly of better resolution than log- book statistics. VMS mapping generates a spatially and temporal explicit view of fisheries activity mostly of better resolution than log- book statistics. Monitoring, surveillance and control of areas closed to human activities is coming up the agenda Monitoring, surveillance and control of areas closed to human activities is coming up the agenda In addition to the VMS data NEAFC has other databases: Monthly reports on quota-uptake from CPs Monthly reports on quota-uptake from CPs Port State Control System Reports from masters of vessels. Port State Control System Reports from masters of vessels. Scientific use of VMS data

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November New demands from area management and the impact of fisheries on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. New demands from area management and the impact of fisheries on Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems. The key point is how useful are VMS data for estimates of fishing in time and space. Is it possible from the combination of vessel specific data and messages on positions and catches to describe fishing activity efficiently The key point is how useful are VMS data for estimates of fishing in time and space. Is it possible from the combination of vessel specific data and messages on positions and catches to describe fishing activity efficiently In other words can the VMS systems be designed to meet both the needs of inspection services and the needs of scientists In other words can the VMS systems be designed to meet both the needs of inspection services and the needs of scientists Is there added value in doing this? Is there added value in doing this? Scientific use of VMS data

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November NEAFC overall analysis

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November Monitoring areas closed fisheries

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November NEAFC requests ICES to evaluate the use and quality of VMS data and records of catch and effort to be received from NEAFC in order to provide information on the spatial and temporal extent of current deep-water fisheries in the NE Atlantic. If data quality allows such analyses, these should be provided with particular emphasis on activity in the NEAFC Regulatory Area. NEAFC requests ICES to evaluate the use and quality of VMS data and records of catch and effort to be received from NEAFC in order to provide information on the spatial and temporal extent of current deep-water fisheries in the NE Atlantic. If data quality allows such analyses, these should be provided with particular emphasis on activity in the NEAFC Regulatory Area. Progress has been rather slow and this has become standing request. It has mainly been used to document fishing activity in the vicinity to areas closed to fisheries. VMS data has not played any role in stock assessment hitherto. Progress has been rather slow and this has become standing request. It has mainly been used to document fishing activity in the vicinity to areas closed to fisheries. VMS data has not played any role in stock assessment hitherto. ICES – NEAFC ccoperation on VMS data

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November ICES advises that NEAFC could further improve the usefulness of the VMS and catch report data by: a) including the fishing gear in reports b) increasing the frequency of reporting of VMS positions c) improving completeness of catch reports (covering all species in the catch) and the frequency of their transmission (ideally once a day and reported on haul by haul basis) d) requiring reporting of vessel speed and heading with each VMS position report e) NEAFC has now introduced depth in selected fisheries ICES advice on NEAFC VMS data

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November Port state control - Paper flow

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November Electronic forms will be introduced next year. This will make it possible to sample data probably in XML

Kjartan Hoydal D4 Science FAO HQ November The end