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<p>The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) already has measures in place to ensure
that shipmasters, skippers and navigational watchkeepers of fishing vessels and commercial
vessels mandated to carry automatic identification system (AIS) keep their systems
operational and in proper use at all times.</p><p> </p><p>These measures include the
use of fixed wing surveillance aircraft and fixed radar installations at certain locations
along the coast.</p><p> </p><p>The MCA recently updated gov.uk weblinks to remind
skippers of relevant fishing vessels that they must fit AIS which meet the international
performance standards and that it is an offence to switch off AIS unless there are
compelling grounds to justify that safety and security of the vessel would be affected.</p><p>
</p><p>The MCA will either warn or prosecute and fine those who they discover are
failing to properly use the AIS at sea.</p>
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