Vessel Monitoring System

What is Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)?

VMS allows the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to enhance its fisheries surveillance and enforcement capabilities while providing data to support science research. The use of VMS allows fishing vessel positions to be transmitted to DFO at regular intervals through a satellite communication system. This information is relayed to a monitoring centre where data is analyzed and archived.

In the Gulf Region, the following vessels are required to have installation and continuous operation of VMS equipment while engaged in fishing activities:

  • Snow crab fishing vessels
  • Mid-shore groundfish fishing vessels
  • Shrimp fishing vessels
  • Herring seiners
  • Vessels required by court order

A list of approved units is available on our website at:

Approved VMS Units by Fisheries & Oceans Canada

To get a copy of the VMS application form, or for all other inquiries, contact the Gulf Region VMS team at:

Toll-Free Number: 1-888-269-7133
Fax: (506) 851-7377
E-mail vms-ssn.info.glf@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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