D&S IFCA begins its roll out of REWIRE Vessel Monitoring Devices for vessels affected by data forwarding issues to the UK VMS Hub.
Vessel Monitoring – The Issues:
The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) introduced a Licence Condition on 12th May 2025 requiring all vessels under 12 metres registered in England to have a fully functioning Inshore Vessel Monitoring Device (IVMS) device on board. As recently reported by D&S IFCA and in the wider media, Succorfish have suspended transmission of data to the UK VMS Hub. The MMO have reported that they are continuing to work with Succorfish in an attempt to resolve the issue on a national scale; however, it is not known how long this may take.
In 2018, D&S IFCA introduced Mobile Fishing Permit Conditions applicable to its District relating to vessel monitoring systems. All mobile fishing vessels (between 6.99 metres and 15 metres in overall length) operating under a Category One Mobile Fishing Permit must have a fully functional device. The Permit Conditions require that the transmitted data from the device must be received by the UK VMS Hub.
Although not the fault of fishers, the current situation involving Succorfish and data not being forwarded to the UK VMS Hub has resulted in fishers not being compliant with D&S IFCA’s permit conditions. On 12th August 2025, D&S IFCA stated that affected vessels could continue fishing whist attempts were made to address the situation. D&S IFCA has the view that the issue needs urgent attention. The scallop dredge fishery begins in D&S IFCA’s District on 1st October 2025. Unless suitably addressed in a timely way, this situation compromises D&S IFCA’s ability to view vessel tracking data on up to 40 mobile fishing vessels and adds significant risks to the protection of the Marine Protected Area network.
Authority Decision Making
On 19th September 2025, Authority Members were briefed about the current situation and concluded that D&S IFCA should act as soon as possible. The Authority has agreed that an alternative vessel monitoring device produced by REWIRE Security (REWIRE) should be made available free of charge to affected vessels in the District and that D&S IFCA will cover the cost of installing the devices.
The Authority have 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. In the event that that no national solution regarding Succorfish devices’ data being forwarded to the UK-VMS Hub is found, the Authority will consider extending the free air time for transmission of data from REWIRE devices beyond the initially agreed six months.
The Authority have recognised that the installation of the REWIRE device means that should Succorfish recommence forwarding data to the UK VMS hub, the affected fishers will have two ways by which they can remain compliant with D&S IFCA’s Category One Mobile Fishing Permit Conditions.
The Roll Out Plan
On 19th September 2025, affected vessel owners were directly contacted and informed that D&S IFCA is working with Tecmarine-uk.
Tecmarine-uk will now begin contacting vessel owners and masters of the affected vessels to arrange the dates and locations for the installations. Vessels currently active in the District will have the first opportunity to have the REWIRE devices fitted. D&S IFCA has informed Techmarine-uk that vessels engaged in scallop dredging are to be prioritised if possible.
The roll out plan involves a Techmarine-uk engineer completing an approved installation form and take four photographs of the installation, before confirming with REWIRE that the device is functioning correctly.
The completed installation form and the photographs will be provided to D&S IFCA. Once an installation is complete, REWIRE will provide the owner and master of the vessel with log in details so the vessel’s data can be viewed.
It is envisaged that many vessels could have REWIRE devices fitted and fully operational within the next few weeks. D&S IFCA will monitor how the installation programme develops, and may directly contact fishers again regarding the installations on their vessels.
As part of the roll out, D&S IFCA has already circulated its Fair Processing Notice relating to Inshore Vessel Monitoring System tracking devices (September 2025). This notice and D&S IFCA’s privacy policy can be found on D&S IFCA’s website.
Fishers have been advised that if they have any questions about the information they have received, that they should contact the Chief Officer of D&S IFCA.
Mat Mander, Chief Officer of D&S IFCA.
M.Mander@devonandsevernifca.gov.uk – 01803 854648 or 07515 050888