· A single national platform (FIIS) will integrate 100% of fisheries activity, covering the entire Maltese fleet and full value chain under one integrated governance framework, setting a new reference for fisheries management.
· The project includes the deployment of more than 700 VMS units, the integration of nine previously independent systems, the full migration of all national fisheries data, and training for over 1,000 sector stakeholders.
The new Maltese Fisheries Information Integrated System (FIIS) was officially launched on Thursday during a high-level institutional event hosted by the Maltese authorities and attended by the Maltese Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries, Dr. Alicia Bugeja; the Minister for EU Funds, Dr. Stefan Zrinzo; and Faustino Velasco, President of Satlink, formally marking the start of a national project that sets a new European standard for digital fisheries management.
Malta has selected Satlink as its technology partner to design, develop, and deploy this advanced system, which will transform how fisheries activity is managed, reported, and traced at both national and international level through a single, fully integrated digital platform.
With FIIS, Malta is moving toward a single, unified digital framework for fisheries governance, becoming the first European country to operate a fully integrated national fisheries management ecosystem, where monitoring, scientific reporting, administrative processes, market supervision, and stakeholder engagement operate within one coordinated system. The system will support over 800 commercial vessels and nearly 2,000 recreational vessels, ensuring comprehensive coverage of Malta’s fishing activity.
This transformation is enabled by integrating 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.
Satlink brings to the project its experience as a world leading provider in fisheries management solutions, with more than 40 governments and regulatory authorities worldwide already trusting its technologies to support the sustainable management of their marine resources. 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.
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.
A new benchmark for fisheries governance
The FIIS project reflects Malta’s long-term strategy to strengthen sustainability, transparency, and coordination across its fisheries sector. By shifting to a unified national system, Malta is establishing a shared digital environment for public authorities, the fishing sector, and market operators, where all core fisheries data are structured, validated, and connected within one national platform.
Training and national capacity building are integral to the project. More than 1,000 stakeholders across the fisheries ecosystem (including fishers, inspectors, administrative staff, and technical teams) will receive hands-on training provided by Satlink as part of the program, ensuring that the system is fully embedded in daily operations and managed at national level over the long term.
Dr. Alicia Bugeja stated: “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. Our vision is clear: modern tools for fishers, less bureaucracy, stronger sustainability, and greater respect for the people whose livelihood depends on the sea.”
Malta’s Minister for European Funds, Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, added that the “Investment is aimed at strengthening the fisheries sector and providing new opportunities for fishermen”, while Bjorn Azzopardi, Director General within the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, stated: “We will be transforming the operation of our digital systems. From nine different systems, we will be moving to a new, holistic system. This will greatly improve the efficiency of the data we use with fishermen for schemes, for other benefits, and the data we communicate to European institutions.”
From Satlink, the project is regarded as a reference initiative at European level. “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 Faustino Velasco, Satlink’s President during his intervention. “The FIIS sets a new standard for how digital systems can support public authorities and the fishing sector within one national framework.”
Through this FIIS, Malta reinforces its position at the forefront of digital fisheries management in Europe with a national project that brings together technology, public administration, and the fishing community within one coherent system.
