The Indonesian Department of Fisheries and Ocean Affairs have installed VMS (Vessel Monitoring Systems) on thousands of fishing boats to support their crackdown on illegal fishing operators in national waters. Hundreds of foreign flag boats have been arrested and confiscated in the past year and several were sunk by cannon fire when they attempted to avoid arrest. See METRO TV news video covering the crackdown.

 MMTA have secured an offer from the manufactureres of a new VMS system that uses GPRS when close to the coast and satellite communications when on the open sea. This hybrid technology can operate at a much lower cost than pure satellite systems. 

 The transponder unit is self contained and simple to install. The cost is only $1,900 per unit with software cost and air time of approximately $90 per month per boat. The MMTA is approaching several National Government Agencies for funding to reduce the cost of establish the system. The running cost will be covered by the boats.

Only licensed MMTA boats will be fitted with the units. Air patrols will be used to locate unlicensed vessels in the area. These units can be used to send emergency signals and other data at low cost.