Praia, April 16, 2026 (Lusa) – Cabo Verde's government has approved a decree-law requiring satellite monitoring of industrial and semi-industrial fishing vessels to strengthen control over activities and combat illegal fishing, according to the legislation, which enters into force on Thursday.
"The law establishes the conditions for the implementation of the satellite monitoring system," applied to "national and foreign fishing vessels authorised to operate in Cabo Verde waters or, for national vessels, abroad.
It covers the installation, use, maintenance, and operation of the system," according to the official gazette published on Wednesday.
The Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) enables real-time tracking of vessels by automatically transmitting data on position, speed, direction, and time, thereby enhancing authorities' inspection capacity.
According to the decree, all covered vessels must install certified Continuous Monitoring Equipment (EMC) on board, which must remain in permanent operation during sea operations. The absence or failure of the system may lead to the cancellation of fishing licences, port departure bans, and fines.
Owners and operators are responsible for purchasing, installing, and maintaining the equipment, and they must ensure the continuous operation of the system without interruptions or tampering. The decree further determines that no vessel may operate without an active system, even if licensed, and prohibits transferring equipment between vessels without official authorisation.
The system requires periodic data transmission, and authorities may adjust intervals based on a vessel's risk level. In the event of a breakdown, national vessels may complete their current campaign only upon the first annual occurrence, provided they repair the equipment on arrival at port.
Repeated failures require an immediate return and the suspension of activity until the issue is resolved.
Foreign vessels with system failures are prohibited from fishing in national waters and must leave the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) or head to port for repairs.
The law establishes a VMS Control Centre responsible for receiving, processing, and analysing data, and for issuing alerts on irregularities.
Authorities treat the collected data as confidential and use it for inspection, maritime security, crime prevention, resource management, and search and rescue operations.
The regime defines offences such as the absence of equipment, tampering, or the transmission of false data. Fines for industrial fishing can range between 2.5 million and 4 million escudos (about €22,000 to €36,000). Sanctions may include suspending activities or revoking licences.
The government may support the installation of equipment on national vessels through financing programmes covering up to 50% of the costs. This mandatory system, originally outlined in the 2020 general fisheries' regime, is now regulated by this new decree.
RS/RYOL // ADB.
Lusa
