Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions her Department has had with the Marine Management Organisation on the potential cost to the public purse of having one Inshore Vessel Monitoring System approved for use for fishing vessels under 12 meters in length.

Defra Ministers and officials have had regular contact with the Marine Management Organisation on the delivery of iVMS devices to under 12m vessels in England.

The MMO announced the revocation of ‘Type Approval’ for two iVMS devices (Maritime Systems Ltd MS44 device and from the Satlink Nano) on the 19 May 2023. However, two devices (Fulcrum Nemo and Succorfish SC2), retain ‘Type Approval’.

All fishers are being contacted directly to make them aware of how this affects them. Fishers will be financially supported to secure suitable, replacement devices.