Pakistan to Launch Real-Time Tracking System for Fishing Boats

The federal government has finalized a plan to install Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) on fishing boats to strengthen maritime security and curb illegal activities at sea.

The Pakistan Maritime Security Agency will oversee the installation process, while all boats will be formally registered before the equipment is fitted.

According to reports, around 10,000 fishing boats from Sindh and Balochistan will be brought under the VMS network. In the first phase, 4,000 boats from Sindh and 4,000 from Balochistan will be equipped with the system.

The devices will only be installed on boats measuring 12 meters, or 39 feet, and above, as smaller vessels are not suitable for long-distance sea travel. Each unit is expected to cost between Rs. 100,000 and Rs. 150,000, with the government bearing the full cost. The device is being manufactured locally.

Officials said the system will allow authorities to track hundreds of boats at sea in real time. It will help identify suspicious vessels, improve response time in case of accidents, prevent illegal fishing and the use of harmful nets, and monitor activities linked to smuggling, drugs, liquor, and human trafficking.

The project had been pending for a long time due to reservations raised by fishermen’s organizations.

Maritime experts said VMS is a satellite and communication-based system used globally to monitor vessels. It tracks a boat’s speed, direction, and movement in real time, much like an online tracking system, while also helping enforce fisheries laws.

The system will also improve the safety of fishermen. In an emergency, a fisherman will be able to press a single button, allowing rescue agencies to locate the distressed boat immediately.

The system will also help authorities detect boats operating without personal safety gear or firefighting equipment. It will further support action against the nighttime distribution of banned nets from illegal jetties.

Under the law, vessels over 15 meters cannot enter the deep sea without the system.