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40 st / October 2015 www.sea-technology.com the collection of valuable scientifc data. Delivered at Lyme Bay, Devon and Dorset, in partnership with the Marine Management Organization (MMO), D&S; IFCA and com- mercial fshermen from the South West Inshore Fish- ermen's Association (SWIFA), the multitiered project used the SC2-iVMS to act as a highly effective management and enforcement tool to allow controlled fshing access to marine protected areas (MPAs) while protecting sensitive ma- rine habitats. This "one box", hard-wired asset management and communication system was installed onto inshore fshing vessels with positive results. It allowed local fsher- men to signifcantly improve fshing activity by opening up waters close to MPAs; re- duced gear confict and static gear losses through improved knowledge of where towed gear vessels could/could not operate; provided fshermen with a "ft and forget" system that easily recorded and sub- mitted accurate, up-to-the minute locational and mapping data; provided marine authori- ties with the ability to collate highly valu- able vessel route mapping and activity data for proactive marine management; offered the potential for fshing vessels to gather additional environmental data; provided high-resolution data to clearly show where and when fshing activity happened, dis- pelling the myth that it occurs everywhere; and proved very effective in protecting ma- rine habitats and reducing the effects of dis- placed fshing activity. In essence, advanced data communication technology provided an all-encompassing solution to a major industry problem. Marine authorities were able to precisely track vessel movement in real time, which led to conservation- ists being able to monitor and protect vast areas of water from impact or overfshing. In addition, fshermen had the correct tools to maximize activity, fsh closer to MPAs and submit accurate data to meet legislative requirements. This modern technology is a valuable tool in promoting trace- ability, bringing fshermen and catch closer to the market- place and supporting a sustainable fshing policy, while controlling fshing grounds from illegal practices. The SC2-iVMS is also used for other marine applica- tions, such as oil and gas, shipping, science, renewables, and search and rescue. It incorporates dual Iridium satel- lite and GPRS/GSM mobile technology to provide superior positional, status and data connectivity to marine assets anywhere on Earth. This means when mobile coverage is no longer available, the SC2 instantly connects to Iridium satellites and transmits seamless data regardless of location. SuccorfshM2M technology has also extended the mobile RFID Monitoring SuccorfshM2M RFID monitoring technology is currently being used by Devon & Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conser- vation Authority (D&S; IFCA). On a local fsheries level, this has allowed regional marine authorities to successfully control the use of recreational lobster pots under new pot- ting permit bylaws. With a limit on the number of pots permitted per person per season and a restriction in the areas they were allowed to enter, D&S; IFCA had, in the past, no real quantitative or proactive means of moni- toring and managing who was potting legally, whether recreational or commercial, or the number of pots in the water at any given time. This created an opportunity for il- legal activity. Once a permit is allocated, the fsherman is provided with RFID tags that are securely attached to each lob- ster pot before entering the water. At varying intervals, the pots are raised by enforcement offcers and scanned using handheld readers and codes from each tag recorded. Data are then transmitted back to SuccorfshM2M's secure, online graphical user inter- face (GUI) and accessed at any time by authorities for future marine plan- ning. Any pot without a tag or with the incorrect coding is instantly removed from the water, meaning that illegal fshing practices are signif- cantly reduced and fshing activities are improved and regulated for legitimate per- mit holders. This is the frst time that automated RFID technology has been used by a U.K. inshore authority for bylaw purposes to great success. "Users are restricted to fve pots per permit, and since the start of the project we have issued 152 potting permits and 715 RFID tags to recreational users," said Tim Robbins, chief offcer at D&S; IFCA. "So far, we are very pleased with the new equipment, as it is a very cost-effective way in which to enable enforcement offcers to monitor compliance with the new bylaw, as well as provide a robust evidence base should further action be required." Inshore VMS Equally, intelligent vessel tracking and data connectiv- ity have become a valuable resource to marine scientists. SuccorfshM2M was part of a groundbreaking inshore fsh- eries program that adopted the company's SC2-iVMS hard- ware, software and data communication technology to aid t Screenshots from the SuccorfshM2M Catch App.