Satellite tracking of fishing vessels

Shirley Wijesinghe

Ceylon Fisheries Harbour Corporation (CFHC) will introduce Vessel Monitoring System(VMS) , a technology that permits automatic satellite tracking of fishing vessels accurately to Sri Lanka.

CFHC Chairman Asanga Abeygunasekera said when a vessel is in an emergency situation, the fishermen in the deep sea can directly inform the relevant information to the CFHC and the message would be conveyed to the coast guard or Navy to take action.

Commenting about the services provided by CFHC, Abeygunasekera said CFHC is delivering a valuable service to the fishing community under the concept of Thotupala Aruna launched recently. VMS is a facility introduced under the Thotupala Aruna concept .

Tracking illegal fishing , obtaining EU certification,improving business in legitimate ways and wining of export market were among the facilities provided by the VMS.

The Sri Lanka Government will enter into a Legitimate Fishing Management System through the VMS. According to information, Sri Lanka will enter the Legitimate Fisheries Management System after introducing the VMS .