How is the Welsh Government collaborating with UK and international authorities to better track the entry and exit of non-Welsh fishing vessels from Welsh inshore waters?
The Welsh Fisheries Monitoring Centre (WFMC) based at Milford Haven monitors all fishing activity within the Welsh zone, and works closely with other Fisheries Administrations in the UK, and the Marine Management Organisation, as well as with other Flag Stages.
Every commercial fishing vessel operating within the UK is subject to a fishing licence regime which also extends to foreign vessels. There are no third country vessels licenced to fish within the Welsh inshore (6 nautical mile (nm)) limit.
Non-Welsh (UK) vessels which are allowed within the 6nm limit are subjected to the same restrictions around Wales as the Welsh fleet. As such, they are monitored daily as above and are also required to have fitted a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) unit which records the vessel’s position. This requirement extends to the entire Welsh zone and in addition to its position, the speed, course and date / time stamp must also be included.
Catch and VMS data from all UK vessels is received automatically to the shared with the UK fisheries data hub. Data exchange systems are in place to send and receive data from third country vessels.
Any vessel not fishing but transiting the Welsh zone, and which might include entry and exit of the inshore 6nm limit, is closely monitored and checked as above.