Satlink technology will support more than 800 commercial vessels and nearly 2,000 recreational vessels.
The Government of Malta has selected the Spanish technology company Satlink to design, develop, and implement its new Integrated Fisheries Information System (FIIS), which will integrate 100% of the country's fishing activity under a single digital governance framework.
Malta thus becomes the first European country to operate a fully integrated national fisheries management ecosystem. In other words, monitoring, scientific reporting, administrative processes, market oversight, and stakeholder participation all function within a single system.
In figures, Satlink has confirmed that its technology will support more than 800 commercial vessels and nearly 2,000 recreational vessels, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the country's fishing activity.
In addition, the FIIS will consolidate vessel registries and monitoring systems such as the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), electronic logbooks, inspection tools, automated port weighing and sales systems, the management of subsidies and public aid, and the automated generation of reports to the European Union.
“We will move from nine different systems to a new integrated system. This will greatly improve the efficiency of the data we use with fishermen and the information we report to European institutions," said Bjorn Azzopardi, Director General of the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture.
Finally, all historical and operational data from the existing national fisheries systems will be migrated to the FIIS to ensure continuity and a consolidated national record.
Satlink will deliver hands-on training to more than 1,000 stakeholders across the fisheries ecosystem, including fishers, inspectors, administrative staff, and technical teams.
Moreover, more than 700 Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) units will be installed across the Maltese fleet to strengthen national coverage and provide real-time visibility of fishing activity.
"The FIIS is not just a digitalisation project. It is a national reform to support our fishers, protect our seas, and strengthen fisheries management. With it, all sector data and stakeholders will be connected through a secure platform accessible in real time. Our vision is clear: modern tools for fishers, less bureaucracy, greater sustainability, and more respect for those who depend on the sea for their livelihood," said Alicia Bugeja, Malta's Fisheries Secretary.
Lastly, Satlink President Faustino Velasco said: "This project reflects Malta’s clear institutional commitment to integrated fisheries governance, and we are proud of the trust placed in Satlink to contribute to this transformation."