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