Fishing vessels on AIS
Trawlers, seiners, longliners and other fishing boats report AIS ship type 30. What "engaged in fishing" really means, who has to carry AIS, and the fishing vessels our shore-based receivers hear now.
Code 301,402 heard in latest snapshot150+ in store
Which AIS codes count as fishing vessels
AIS code 30 is fishing. It sits in the 30s, the range where every code carries its own meaning rather than a family plus a cargo qualifier, so there is exactly one fishing code and no subtypes. A trawler, a purse seiner and a small longliner all report 30.
The type says what the boat is. Whether it is fishing right now is a separate field: navigational status 7, "engaged in fishing".
| Code | Meaning | Heard now |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Fishing vessel | 1,402 |
How to spot one on the live map
Fishing vessels have the least ship-like tracks on the map: slow zig-zags, loops and parallel runs at 2 to 5 knots while towing gear, then a straight, faster run home. Fleets bunch together over the same grounds.
Many fishing boats are small and work close inshore, so coverage near the coast is good. The bigger distant-water vessels spend weeks beyond the range of any shore receiver.
Open the live map → Positions there are the latest known, with their source and age.
Who has to carry AIS
SOLAS does not apply to fishing vessels, so carriage depends on the flag and the waters. In the European Union, fishing vessels of 15 metres overall length and above must carry Class A AIS under Directive 2002/59/EC as amended. In US waters, self-propelled commercial vessels of 65 feet and above, fishing vessels included, must carry AIS under 33 CFR 164.46. Smaller boats often fit Class B, which reports no navigational status.
The navigational status to expect
Ship type says what a vessel is; navigational status says what it claims to be doing. These are the statuses that normally go with fishing vessels:
Where the type code misleads
Status 7 is often left on for the whole trip, including the transit to and from the grounds. A vessel reporting "engaged in fishing" at 11 knots in a straight line is almost certainly steaming, not fishing.
Fishing skippers sometimes switch AIS off to keep productive grounds private, and IMO guidance accepts a master switching off where transmitting would compromise the vessel's safety or security. On a terrestrial network like ours, though, the far more common reason a fishing vessel vanishes is that it has gone beyond receiver range.
Lights and shapes
Under Rule 26, a trawler shows all-round green over white lights; a vessel fishing by other means shows red over white. By day, both show two cones with their points together. Lights for orientation only; the COLREGs text is the authority.
Summary for orientation only. The COLREGs text is the authority; this site is not a navigation reference.
Questions
What is the AIS ship type code for a fishing vessel?
Code 30. There is only one fishing code; it covers every kind of fishing boat. Whether the boat is actively fishing is shown separately, by navigational status 7.
Do fishing boats have to carry AIS?
It depends on flag and size. EU fishing vessels of 15 metres and above must carry Class A AIS; in US waters the threshold for commercial vessels including fishing boats is 65 feet. Many smaller boats carry Class B voluntarily, and many carry nothing.
Why does a fishing vessel show "engaged in fishing" while steaming?
Because the status is set by hand and is often not changed when the gear comes in. Speed and track tell you what the boat is really doing: fishing tracks are slow and irregular, transits are straight and faster.
Further reading
In our store
Fishing vessels we have heard
0 with a position
| Vessel | MMSI | Type | Destination | Speed | Course | Status | Position age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PEPE ARMONIA | 124013460 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MARFILENA | 124056340 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| AISADM | 200298966 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ROZAFA 23 | 201100151 | Fishing vessel | ADRIATIC&IONIAN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ROZAFA 22 | 201100159 | Fishing vessel | SARANDA | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| KARMELA I | 201100415 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ROZAFA 12 | 201101117 | Fishing vessel | VALLETA MLT | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SHPRESA | 201110300 | Fishing vessel | ADRIATIC&IONIAN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| PESCA ACORES | 204211450 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MESTRE BOBICHA | 204225000 | Fishing vessel | LONG LINE FHISH | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| AGUAS SANTAS | 204226000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| PEREIRA E MOCA | 204237000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SILVA MARQUES | 204242000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| AVO CACHEIRA | 204245000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| DOIS SONHADORES | 204248000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| PARCEIRO | 204250000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| VIRGILIO MIGUEL | 204257000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| PAI ETERNO | 204258000 | Fishing vessel | - | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| DAMATA | 204261000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| CRUSTACEO | 204263000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| AJUDADO POR DEUS | 204265000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BARRINHA | 204270000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BRAVO | 204819000 | Fishing vessel | VIGO | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| FV N82 NAUTILUS | 205026000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z47 DE MARIE LOUISE | 205059000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z19 BRIGITTE | 205096000 | Fishing vessel | STELLENDAM | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z57 HEIN SENIOR | 205128000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z26 AVANTI | 205133000 | Fishing vessel | FISHINGGROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| N350 INGRID | 205148000 | Fishing vessel | DEN OEVER | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MFV Z38 ZUIDERZEE | 205149000 | Fishing vessel | SEA | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| O29 BROODWINNER | 205150000 | Fishing vessel | OOSTENDE | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MFV Z67 RUBENS | 205155000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MFV DEBORAH | 205162000 | Fishing vessel | ZEEBRUGGE | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| VAN EYCK Z53 | 205166000 | Fishing vessel | LE HAVRE | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| FV Z60 BLUE ANGEL | 205198000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| B-601 VAN MAERLANT | 205261000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ALBERT BOS | 205263000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z-8 AQUARIUS | 205264000 | Fishing vessel | BRESKENS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| O 62 DINI | 205265000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| RENILDE O190 | 205272000 | Fishing vessel | OSTEND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| O191 ROMY | 205273000 | Fishing vessel | OOSTENDE | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| O.33 MARBI | 205275000 | Fishing vessel | BRITOL CHANNEL | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MFV O51 STORMVOGEL | 205277000 | Fishing vessel | OOSTENDE | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| WINDROOS Z98 | 205279000 | Fishing vessel | ZEEBRUGGE | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| RUDY-N86 | 205281000 | Fishing vessel | VISSEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z63 THALASSA | 205293000 | Fishing vessel | OSTAND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z-296 | 205303000 | Fishing vessel | <>< <>< <>< | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z18 SOETKIN | 205306000 | Fishing vessel | ZEEBRUGGE | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MFV N93 AALSCHOLVER | 205307000 | Fishing vessel | NIEUWPOORT | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MFV O2 MIKE MICHEL J | 205308000 | Fishing vessel | OOSTENDE | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z526 VAYA CON DIOS | 205316000 | Fishing vessel | CORK | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z-24 ELIA | 205632000 | Fishing vessel | FISH | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| Z182 HENNIE | 205718000 | Fishing vessel | HARLINGEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| O81 JAIDY | 205768000 | Fishing vessel | IJMUIDEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| DELTA | 207822280 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| DANCHOVOTO GEORGI | 207823230 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| HARASIMOV MLADSHI | 207827320 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ARCHANGELOS MICHAEL | 209994000 | Fishing vessel | :; | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MFV RANIA | 210380000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ROYAL FRYSK | 211101000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| HELGA | 211163000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| CLAUDIA | 211164000 | Fishing vessel | WREMEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| GERDA KATHARINA | 211166000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| GRE 5 MARTJE | 211168000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MARIA L SW2 | 211169660 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ZENIT | 211181000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| WALTHER HERWIG III | 211215500 | Fishing vessel | BREMERHAVEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ORTEGAL DOS | 211232850 | Fishing vessel | > | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| HELEN MARY | 211238930 | Fishing vessel | IJMUIDEN NETHERLANDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| JURIE VAN DEN BERG | 211270480 | Fishing vessel | HARLINGEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SK42 VERTRAUEN | 211288860 | Fishing vessel | CUXHAFEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| CUX1 MARE LIBERUM | 211290000 | Fishing vessel | FISHGROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ORION | 211292280 | Fishing vessel | ACCUMERSIEL | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| OZEAN SD9 | 211307520 | Fishing vessel | CUXHAVEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| EDELWEISS | 211314600 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ANTARES | 211314800 | Fishing vessel | BALTIC SEA | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| JAN BRUHNS | 211314990 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| JAN MAAT | 211315620 | Fishing vessel | KAMPEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| DAMKERORT | 211315630 | Fishing vessel | FISHING | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| PESORSA CUATRO | 211315870 | Fishing vessel | CORUINA GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MADONNA | 211317290 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| VERTROUWEN GRE33 | 211319670 | Fishing vessel | FISHINGGROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| NEPTUN | 211325200 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| GLUECKAUF | 211325290 | Fishing vessel | FISHING_GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| KRISTIN | 211325510 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| NG10 AQUA-FAUNA | 211332630 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BRA7 JADE | 211332750 | Fishing vessel | DEN HELDER | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| AADE | 211337920 | Fishing vessel | HELGOLAND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ROTESAND SD18 | 211342220 | Fishing vessel | BUESUM | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ATLANTIK | 211439000 | Fishing vessel | FISCHGRUENDE | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ZWEI GEBRUEDER | 211483000 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| TUEMMLER | 211516210 | Fishing vessel | CH 16 FOR INFO | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| OSTETAL | 211551000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| STOLPER BANK | 211552000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GOUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BUTENDIEK | 211555000 | Fishing vessel | FISHINGROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MARTHA BRUHNS | 211586000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| AMISIA DIT6 | 211587000 | Fishing vessel | BORKUM | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MARIE LOUISE SH-16 | 211588480 | Fishing vessel | CUXHAVEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| GEEN-TIED | 211589000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| HELGOLAND | 211593750 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| RUGENORT | 211599000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| NORDSTERN | 211607000 | Fishing vessel | GREETSIEL | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| ALBATROS | 211626000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SC6 HELMSAND | 211626320 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| STIENE BRUHNS | 211671890 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BONAFIDE SC-19 | 211699000 | Fishing vessel | LAUWERSOOG | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| TINA CUX-5 | 211721570 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SD-19 CAP ARKONA | 211815000 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| "DESTINY" BRA4 | 211824000 | Fishing vessel | BRAKE | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| HINDENBURG SD11 | 211861000 | Fishing vessel | BUESUM | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SC1 ELISABETH | 211872390 | Fishing vessel | HARLINGEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| GERDA-BIANKA | 218040340 | Fishing vessel | FISHING NORTHSEA | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| VICTORIA | 218162000 | Fishing vessel | SEA | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| THILDE SOFIE | 219001189 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| HV8 GITTE MIRANDA | 219001265 | Fishing vessel | ESBJERG | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| FN224 LAERKE VINTHER | 219003066 | Fishing vessel | FISKEPLADSEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| AURELIA | 219005904 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| R223 BUSTER | 219005941 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| H 21 MARIANNE | 219005969 | Fishing vessel | B | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| A300 MARIE SKOV | 219006113 | Fishing vessel | OSTERBY | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| YDUN | 219007378 | Fishing vessel | 0 | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MAAGEN | 219008145 | Fishing vessel | SPODSBJERG | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SOFIA KAUL | 219009041 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| IDA SARA E710 | 219011867 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| CHRISTINA MORTENSEN | 219018405 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| FN488 DORIS | 219021343 | Fishing vessel | HORNSREV1<->ESBJERG | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| HG 165 SOUTH OCEAN | 219021428 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SARON S158 | 219022000 | Fishing vessel | FISHGROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| HM228 PONDUS | 219022165 | Fishing vessel | HANSTHOLM | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BRISTOL | 219022326 | Fishing vessel | DONSO | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| MYGGENES | 219023236 | Fishing vessel | CH16 FOR INFO | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| HM379 LINGBANK | 219023274 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SAJONI | 219023313 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| HM96 JANNI | 219023588 | Fishing vessel | GOING HOME TO JANNI | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SILVER SEA S 249 | 219023738 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SMILLA | 219023855 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| EMILIE | 219023911 | Fishing vessel | FISHINGGGROUND | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| IDA-KATRINE S84 | 219024000 | Fishing vessel | HIRTSHALS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| L47 CAMILLA | 219024411 | Fishing vessel | HANSTHOLM | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| BIRGITTE L349 | 219024698 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| FN462 JEANNE | 219025245 | Fishing vessel | TRAWL FISHING | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| EMLI PILEGAARD | 219025535 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| AHLMA WEST | 219026170 | Fishing vessel | SKAGEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| FN338 SONJAN | 219026172 | Fishing vessel | STRANDBY | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| STELLA NOVA | 219026318 | Fishing vessel | SEARCHING FISH | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| NANNA CECILIE L820 | 219026675 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| SKAGERAK | 219027026 | Fishing vessel | SKAGEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| R 333 KARL-EMIL | 219027399 | Fishing vessel | KANAL KROEN | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| FN 428 KJOLPEN | 219027752 | Fishing vessel | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
| L232 TOVE KYNDE | 219027771 | Fishing vessel | FISHING GROUNDS | Not reported | Not reported | Not reported | No position held |
Listed newest position first, capped at 150 rows. Ship type is self-declared by the vessel and is not verified by anyone.