Manual

Photo manual for fisheries enforcement

Photographs play a vital role in identifying vessels that are involved in illegal fishing and fisheries crime. By gathering information about the appearance, identity and operations of fishing vessels we are collecting evidence that may prove crucial for investigations – for example, documenting transhipment, recording which vessels operate together and establishing vessel identity fraud.

Access to good quality photographs of vessels can enable us to identify where this is happening, and will enable national authorities to verify that the vessels they are licensing are using the correct documentation.

The use of multiple identities by a fishing vessel or incidents where multiple vessels share one identity, in order to circumvent regulation and avoid paying access fees has become increasingly apparent over recent years. The ability to analyse different photographs in order to identify vessels is crucial, and can lead to vessel identification from photos even when markings are not clearly captured.

Photographs can also indicate compliance issues such as incorrect gear and transhipment activity. The ability to take and analyse photographs are important skills and cameras are an essential tool for anyone involved in fisheries monitoring and enforcement including fisheries inspectors, observers, MCS staff , field staff , the Coastguard and community groups.