Photo by Max Shirko
A prolonged data transmission failure affecting inshore vessel monitoring systems has left the Marine Management Organisation without live positional information from an unknown number of fishing vessels, five months after equipment supplier Succorfish stopped forwarding data amid an unresolved contract dispute.
The issue, which began on 11 August 2025, continues to prevent the MMO from receiving positional data from under-12 metre vessels using Succorfish type-approved i-VMS devices, despite the company maintaining one of only two nationally approved monitoring systems for the English inshore fleet.
Contract impasse
Succorfish explained in a letter to clients that it had been “providing IVMS data forwarding services to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) for over 12 months without any formal contractual arrangement or funding in place. Despite repeated engagement with the MMO — including meetings, proposals, and technical discussions — no Enabling Contract has been agreed that would allow the continuation of this service under an official framework.”
The company stated: “During this period, the forwarding of recorded IVMS data from our secure servers to the MMO’s systems has been carried out entirely at Succorfish’s own cost. This arrangement is not sustainable.”
The MMO responded that “The onward transmission of data to the UK VMS Hub is a fundamental and integral part of this type approval, and we are disappointed Succorfish has taken this course of action.” The organisation added: “There is, however, an expectation that suppliers continue to meet the requirements of their I-VMS type approval, including adherence to agreed performance standards.”
Regional intervention
Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority responded to the crisis by funding the installation of 35 ReWire vessel monitoring devices on mobile fishing gear vessels operating in its district at an estimated cost of £7,100 from general reserves.
The authority confirmed to enforcement officers on 3 December 2025 that the issue remained unresolved. Although vessel owners were not responsible for the data failure, many mobile gear vessels operating with Succorfish devices were no longer compliant with Devon & Severn IFCA permit conditions, which require functioning vessel tracking.
The authority explicitly linked the absence of tracking data to “increased risk to the Marine Protected Area network” where spatial controls depend on reliable vessel positioning.
Devon & Severn IFCA recognised that “Succorfish devices should not be removed and should remain fully functioning, as it is still required to meet the MMO’s Licence Condition that was introduced on 12th May 2025.”
Industry confidence concerns
The Fishing Daily reported that questions over device reliability, supplier performance and the MMO’s procurement and oversight have persisted since the i-VMS requirement was first introduced. Several suppliers have been removed from the type-approved list in the past due to technical issues or failure to meet performance standards, with fishermen left to replace equipment at their own cost.
Industry bodies have warned that the i-VMS programme risks losing the confidence of fishermen unless contractual, technical and enforcement problems are addressed.
The MMO confirmed it is in discussion with Devon & Severn IFCA about the technical elements of introducing ReWire devices, including the use of the data. It also noted that other IFCAs with permit requirements may be considering similar temporary options.
Data still accessible
Succorfish has assured customers that all vessel positional data remains accessible through the company’s own systems. The company stated: “Upon device activation, every customer is issued a unique user account and secure login credentials, allowing direct access to their own vessel’s data in real time.”
Vessel operators using Succorfish units have been told to continue operating as normal, including having their i-VMS devices switched on and transmitting positional data while at sea. The MMO has stated that its “measured approach to enforcement of the licence condition remains in place at this time.”
Succorfish, which has supplied i-VMS devices and services to the UK fishing industry since 2010, said the resumption of data forwarding “will be contingent on the MMO implementing a formal service agreement.”