The new Maltese Fisheries Information Integrated System (FIIS) has officially launched. Malta selected Satlink to design, develop, and deploy this advanced system, expected to transform how fisheries activity is managed, reported, and traced at both national and international level through a single, fully integrated digital platform.
FIIS moves Malta to a single, unified digital framework for fisheries governance, becoming the first European country to operate a fully integrated national fisheries management environment in which monitoring, scientific reporting, administrative processes, market supervision, and stakeholder engagement operate within one coordinated system. The system is designed to support over 800 commercial vessels and nearly 2000 recreational vessels, ensuring comprehensive coverage of Malta’s fishing activity.
This integrates nine previously independent government systems into one cloud-based platform, shifting fisheries administration from a fragmented structure to a fully unified, data-driven national system. The platform brings together vessel registries and monitoring systems (VMS), electronic logbooks, inspection tools, automated port weighing and sales systems (including the processing of over 31.000 sales notes each year), subsidy and public aid management, and automated EU reporting (FLUX), ensuring end-to-end visibility from fishing activity to market
As part of the transition, all historical and operational data from existing national fisheries systems will be migrated into FIIS, ensuring continuity and a consolidated national fisheries record.
‘The FIIS is not just a digital project. It is a national reform aimed at supporting our fishers, protecting our seas, and strengthening good governance. With it, everything will be connected, secure, and accessible in real time,’ said Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries Dr. Alicia Bugeja.
‘Our vision is clear: modern tools for fishers, less bureaucracy, stronger sustainability, and greater respect for the people whose livelihood depends on the sea.’
The FIIS is being developed in alignment with the European regulatory framework, including the Common Fisheries Policy, ICCAT obligations, and EU data protection standards. The platform is designed as a secure, interoperable, and future-ready system to manage 100% of national fisheries activity through a single framework, supporting sustainable resource management, consistent data flows, and administrative efficiency.
Training and national capacity building are integral to the project. More than a thousand stakeholders across the fisheries ecosystem (including fishers, inspectors, administrative staff, and technical teams) receive hands-on training provided by Satlink as part of the programme, ensuring that the system is fully embedded in daily operations and managed at national level over the long term.
As part of the project, more than 700 vessel monitoring system (VMS) units will be installed across the Maltese fleet, strengthening national coverage and real-time visibility of fishing activity.
‘This project reflects a clear institutional commitment to integrated fisheries governance, and we are proud of the trust placed in Satlink to contribute to this transformation,’ said Satlink’s President Faustino Velasco.
‘The FIIS sets a new standard for how digital systems can support public authorities and the fishing sector within one national framework.’
