Council Regulation (EC) No. 686/97 amending Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93 establishing a control system applicable to the common fisheries policy.

Article 3 of Regulation (EEC) No. 2847/93 shall be replaced by the text laid down in article 1 of the present Regulation. Each Member State shall establish a satellite-based vessel monitoring system (VMS) to monitor the position of Community fishing vessels. The VMS shall apply to all Community fishing vessels exceeding 20 metres between perpendiculars or 24 metres overall length belonging to any one of the following categories: a) vessels operating on the high seas, except in the Mediterranean Sea; b) vessels operating in the waters of third countries, provided that provisions have been made in Agreements with the relevant third country or countries for the application of a VMS to the vessels of such country or countries operating in the waters of the Community; c) vessels catching fish for reduction to meal and oil.