Maritime surveillance systems in the EU

One of the elements of the integrated Maritime Policy for the European Union that the Commission is pursuing is enhanced interoperability and integration between existing maritime surveillance and monitoring systems, across the different maritime sectors. As a first step it is necessary to have better awareness of the present situation.

This report tries to summarise some information on existing maritime surveillance systems that has recently been gathered at a European level, and aims to focus on data sharing aspects. Information from four main sources is analysed:
+ on fisheries monitoring from Directorate General for Fisheries and Maritime Affairs;
+ on vessel traffic management from EMSA;
+ on southern maritime border security from Frontex based on the BORTEC study; and
+ on vessel reporting systems mandated by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

This does certainly not give a complete picture of the maritime surveillance data sharing practices in the EU, but it provides a basis from which to formulate further questions that can in particular be directed to the Member States.