Norway mandates encrypted VMS tracking for all fishing vessels by 2027

Norway will require all fishing boats, including those under 8 meters previously exempt, to install encrypted VMS transmitters by April 1, 2027, to share position data with authorities. This expands monitoring coverage to small-scale fisheries, enhancing enforcement and data collection. The policy's impact on small fishers and privacy is uncertain, but it signals tighter regulatory oversight in Norwegian fisheries.