The Marine Management Organisation operates a satellite vessel monitoring system (VMS) from its fisheries monitoring centre at its Newcastle headquarters.

Since 2005, all Community vessels automatically transmit vessel identification, date, time, position, course and speed either hourly or every 2 hours (if the responsible Fisheries Monitoring Centre can request positions).

The Marine Monitoring Centre also acts as part of the UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre, maintaining and monitoring the VMS satellite tracking system of all fishing vessels in Scottish waters and Scottish fishing vessels globally.