To support efficient fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS), Starboard augments the AIS-reported vessel type with more granular vessel subtype data obtained from Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs).

The AIS vessel type is entered manually by the crew onto the AIS transceiver using a two-digit code, which can be incorrect. It does not include detailed information, for example, the specific subtype of a fishing vessel or whether a cargo vessel is used as a fish carrier.

RFMOs such as the The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) collect and maintain this more detailed information in order to regulate high seas transshipment and other fishing activities.

Starboard brings in data from fishing registers and matches it to vessels reporting on AIS in the Starboard database. Vessel subtypes from RFMOs are then updated in Starboard for corresponding vessels. This information can be found in the vessel details panel and in the vessel report, where available.

Standardisation of vessel subtypes

We use the International Standard Statistical Classification of Fishery Vessels (ISSCFV) by Vessel Types (Rev.1, 2019) of the ​​Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to standardise fishing vessel type names across multiple RFMOs. Currently, the WCPFC register is supported with other RFMO registers to follow.

The vessel subtype mappings across the WCPFC, FAO, and Starboard are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Vessel type mappings.

WCPFC subtype

FAO code

FAO subcategory

Vessel details

displayed in app

WCPFC details displayed in app

Bunker

23.1

Bunkering tanker vessels

Tanker - Bunkering tanker

Bunker

Fish carrier

21.9

Fisher carriers and reefers nei²

Cargo - Fish carrier

Fish carrier

Fishery research vessel

25.9

Fishery research and survey vessels nei

Fishing - Fishery research

Fishery research vessel

Fishery training vessel

27.9

Fishery training vessels

Fishing - Fishery training

Fishery training vessel

Gillnetter

6.9

Gillnetters nei

Fishing - Gillnetter

Gilnetter

Handliner

9.4

Hand liner vessels

Fishing - Hand liner

Handliner

Lift netter

5.9

Lift netters nei

Fishing - Lift netter

Lift netter

Longliner

8.9

Longliners nei

Fishing - Longliner

Longliner

Pole and line

9.2

Pole and Line vessels

Fishing - Pole and line

Pole and line

Pot vessel

7.1

Pot vessels

Fishing - Pot vessel

Pot vessel

Purse seiner

2.9

Purse seiners nei

Fishing - Purse seiner

Purse seiner

Support vessel

29.9

Vessels supporting fishing related activities, nei

Fishing - Support

Support vessel

Troller

9.3

Trollers

Fishing - Troller

Troller

Tuna longliner

8.2

Midwater longliners

Fishing - Longliner (midwater)

Tuna longliner

Tuna purse seiner

2.1

Purse Seiners - American type

Fishing - Purse seiner (American type)

Tuna purse seiner

Advanced filtering

Vessel subtypes from RFMO registers are also available within Starboard’s advanced filtering under ‘Vessel type’.

Limitations

Not all vessels in Starboard have vessel subtypes. The only vessels that have subtypes are those that were matched to external vessel lists with this data. Currently, only the WCPFC fishing register has been implemented, which includes fishing vessels authorised to fish in the WCPFC Convention Area beyond the national jurisdiction of the member of the Commission whose flag the vessel is flying.

All other vessels have the vessel type reported by AIS.

¹ STATISTICS, COORDINATING WORKING PARTY ON FISHERY. "FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No. 1213 FIAS/R1213 (En)."

² Not elsewhere included

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