The federal government has finalised a plan to install satellite-based Vessel Monitoring Systems on fishing boats across Sindh and Balochistan, marking a significant step toward strengthening maritime security and curbing illegal activity along Pakistan’s coastline, with the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency overseeing the installation process once all participating boats are formally registered.
Around 10,000 fishing boats will be brought under the Vessel Monitoring System network in total, with the first phase covering 4,000 boats from Sindh and 4,000 from Balochistan. The devices will only be fitted on boats measuring 12 metres, or 39 feet, and above, since smaller vessels are not typically used for long-distance sea travel and would gain limited benefit from the tracking capability. Each unit is expected to cost between Rs. 100,000 and Rs. 150,000, with the government bearing the full cost of installation, and the devices themselves are being manufactured locally rather than imported, reducing both cost and dependency on foreign suppliers for ongoing maintenance and replacement.
Maritime experts describe the Vessel Monitoring System as a satellite and communication-based technology used globally to track a vessel’s speed, direction, and movement in real time, functioning much like a continuous location tracking system while also supporting enforcement of fisheries laws. Officials said the system will allow authorities to monitor hundreds of boats simultaneously at sea, helping identify suspicious vessels, improve emergency response times for accidents, prevent illegal fishing practices and the use of harmful nets, and monitor activity linked to smuggling, narcotics, alcohol, and human trafficking. The project had remained pending for an extended period due to reservations previously raised by fishermen’s organisations, suggesting that consultation and trust-building with the fishing community were necessary before the rollout could proceed.
Beyond enforcement, the system is also expected to improve safety outcomes for fishermen themselves. In an emergency situation, a fisherman will be able to press a single button on the device, allowing rescue agencies to immediately locate the distressed boat and respond accordingly, a capability that could meaningfully reduce response times in situations where boats lose contact or encounter difficulty far from shore. The system will additionally help authorities detect boats operating without personal safety gear or firefighting equipment, and support enforcement action against the nighttime distribution of banned fishing nets from illegal jetties. Under existing law, vessels exceeding 15 metres are already barred from entering deep sea waters without such a monitoring system in place, meaning the new rollout extends a similar safety and compliance standard to a much larger segment of the fishing fleet.
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