Mandatory tracking systems for fishing vessels again touted

Dec 10, 2010 News

…European company makes pitch

As Guyana moves closer to implement measures that will see fishing boats outfitted with vessel monitoring systems, at least one European company is hoping to sell its products here.
On Wednesday, Slovenia’s EMA Group made its pitch for a tracking system that could cost as much as $400,000 apiece and, if integrated, will allow authorities and fishing companies to track their vessels and lessen the possibilities of illegal fishing.
A local firm, R.K. Security Services, which also pushes its line of vehicles and other surveillance equipment, also met with several stakeholders including fishing companies, the Coast Guard and Ministry of Agriculture. R.K. is collaborating with EMA.
According to R.K’s owner, Roshan Khan, following correspondences from the Ministry of Home Affairs on the need to step up surveillance on the waterways and seas, his company had made contact with EMA, a prominent European company, on the possibility of some of their equipment being used here.
Following a spate of piracy with recent years, government had attempted to entice artisanal vessels and trawlers to get hooked up with a vessel monitoring system (VMS), but with little success.
According to Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, while Guyana is open to new technology, the reluctance of the fishing industry to come onboard has been a problem.
With the fishing industry undergoing widespread changes in regulations, as overexploitation of fishing zones remains a major problem, the official said that even a piracy fund that was launched failed to attract interest.
In the meantime, there have been sporadic incidences of piracy.
With an estimated 100 trawlers and 200 small fishing boats’ licences being issued by government annually, the issue of proper monitoring and surveillance is also a challenge.
There have been accusations of boats leaving the demarcated fishing zones. With piracy still being a major concern, the use of the equipment will assist in companies and authorities to pinpoint locations of the vessels using satellites and mobile phone networks.
Persaud acknowledged that quite a number of fisherfolks went out of business fearing for their lives and properties following piracy attacks.
Guyana has established an advisory committee to examine ways in which the VMS could be introduced here.
According to EMA Group officials, the need for tracking devices on boats is becoming more crucial, especially since Europe has been implementing measures that even blacklist countries showing unwillingness to stamp out illegal fishing.
Guyana, the officials are convinced, could lead the way in the Caribbean, which has in the last count more than 15,000 small fishing boats and about 2,500 trawlers.
EMA’s Blue Tracker system, as the device is known, is easy to install and can be upgraded remotely by technicians.
The EMA Group consists of three companies in three countries (Slovenia, Hungary and Croatia) with 50 employees.
During the last 17 years, the company claims it has become the leading marking, coding and traceability specialist in Eastern Europe.
In 2004, a new division was created to develop its Wireless Telematics and Machine to Machine (M2M) communication systems. This led to a new range of solutions for intelligent transport systems and mobile communications.

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Mandatory tracking systems for fishing vessels again touted

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