Since its founding in 1986 on Cape Cod, Woods Hole Group (WHG) has been a trusted partner to the global marine community. As part of the French CLS Group, WHG combines decades of scientific expertise with state-of-the-art satellite and data technologies to support sustainable ocean management. With nearly 100 employees and dedicated regional offices in Delaware, Maryland, and Texas, WHG provides the tools necessary to meet the challenges of 21st century fisheries management and environmental stewardship.
Our Sustainable Fisheries Management Business Unit operates at the intersection of technology, science, and regulation across three primary areas: Tracking and Monitoring, Catch and Quota Management, and Ocean Intelligence. These comprehensive services support commercial, small-scale, and recreational fisheries with reliable vessel monitoring, streamlined catch reporting, and advanced oceanographic insights, empowering fishers and managers alike to make better, faster, and more sustainable decisions.
Tracking and Monitoring Solutions
WHG has been a type-approved Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) supplier in good standing with National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and NOAA since the program’s inception, currently monitoring over 4,000 vessels 24/7/365 using two state-of-the-art VMS tracking beacons:
Triton Advanced VMS
Designed for federally permitted industrial fishing vessels, Triton leverages the Iridium satellite network to provide global, real-time vessel tracking and electronic catch reporting. The system comprises a rugged beacon dome housing the Iridium antenna, a junction box for powering the unit and connecting sensors, and a ruggedized Android tablet that communicates with the junction box via Bluetooth.
Through the Bluetooth tablet and Iridium network, captains can send emails, check weather reports, and submit catch or electronic form data in real time from anywhere on earth. These catch reports contain important species and biomass tonnage statistics closely overseen by NMFS to maintain sustainable fisheries year after year. Triton has been proven in the world’s toughest conditions ranging from the Bering Sea to the equator and continues to lead the industry in reliability and feature set, serving as the VMS system of choice for over 40 governments and fisheries regulatory bodies worldwide.
NEMO VMS
Introduced to the US market in 2021, NEMO was built specifically for small-scale, artisanal, coastal, and charter fisheries as a low-cost, hybrid tracking solution. This innovative VMS unit pioneers a solution combining cellular connectivity for low-cost vessel tracking with Kineis/ARGOS satellite backup and an integrated solar panel, making it highly reliable and accessible for smaller-scale operations.
NEMO is easily installed with only five screws and can be powered by both on-board vessel power and through its built-in solar panel. The system is future-compatible with the soon-to-be-launched nanosatellite constellation KINEIS, providing true two-way communication in near real time anywhere in the world at a previously impossible price point.
NEMO has been widely adopted in the Gulf of Mexico’s SEFHIER (Southeast For-Hire Integrated Electronic Reporting) program, where participating charter fishermen choose NEMO for its low cost, ease of installation, reliability, and—thanks to the Gulf of Mexico sun—incredible battery life. Approximately 500 NEMOs have been deployed in US waters, with the system currently being used by the Belize Fisheries Department to monitor their artisanal fleet of skiffs and sailboats. NEMO’s distress alert functionality provides these fishers with added peace of mind and gives BFiD a way to know if there are problems with fishermen while offshore.
Catch and Quota Management
As we enter the era of modern catch reporting and data management, WHG is helping fishermen modernize and optimize their data flow with complete paper-to-digital transformations. The catch reporting system provides an all-in-one solution for fishermen at every level, from weekend charter fishermen in the Gulf of Mexico to groundfish vessels in the Northeast—one of the most heavily regulated fisheries in the world.
CLS and Woods Hole Group’s proprietary systems and data security protect fishers’ data every step of the way, from entering catch information on the tablet, to transmission over the satellite network, to secure servers, and finally delivery to the appropriate scientific or regulatory body. Our in-house team of software developers creates custom reporting solutions that transform decades-old, manual pen-to-paper reports into seamless, automated operations powered by state-of-the-art technology.
At the center of this capability is THEMIS (Thematic Maritime Information System), CLS Group’s advanced maritime platform in use for over 15 years. THEMIS integrates multiple sources of marine data—radar, AIS, VMS, catch reports, and oceanography—into a unified platform for fleet oversight. Through this interface, users can create geozones that interact with VMS beacons to alert fishermen and regulators when transiting into or out of specific areas such as closed areas, marine protected areas, or experimental fishing grounds.
A more robust version of THEMIS is available to Fisheries Monitoring Centers, providing not only VMS positions but an entire database of ships with accompanying information including identifiers, vessel characteristics, owner names, and licenses. The platform now includes an e-logbook module with complete catch analytics for fisheries administrators, offering statistics by vessel, fleet, zone, fish type, and quota management with real-time reports for quick action and resource management.
Ocean Intelligence Products
CATSAT
A staple in the modern fisherman’s toolkit for over a decade, CATSAT (Color, Altimetry, Temperature via Satellite) helps locate target species while simultaneously reducing bycatch, search time, and operating costs. Installed onboard vessels and combining satellite, model, and in-situ data, CATSAT allows fishermen to see through the water column in real-time to make educated decisions on fishing areas and conditions.
 CATSAT v6 showing Zooplankton concentration filter. |
 CATSAT v6 showing Micronekton concentration filter. |
The latest version, CATSAT v6, debuts game-changing data and models providing even more accurate fishing recommendations. WHG is proud to be the only supplier capable of providing real-time biological data on plankton, zooplankton, and micronekton, effectively breaking down and displaying the entire food chain for most pelagic predators. CATSAT v6 also introduces an all-new buoy and FAD tracking module, higher resolution weather and wind data from both NCEP and ECMWF models, plus a powerful integrated catch logbook with filter and gradient tools for analysis.
DOLFIN
Our newest product release, DOLFIN (Data for Oceanographic Learning and Fisheries Intelligence Needs), harnesses machine learning and artificial intelligence to accurately predict and identify the best fishing zones for target species and bycatch avoidance. By correlating historical catch data with oceanographic data, DOLFIN understands what conditions were present at the time and location of catches.
Using VMS and catch logs, the system pairs catches to specific dates, times, and locations, correlating them against decades of archived oceanographic data. Powerful filters and analysis tools help users understand performance patterns and compare vessels within fleets, drawing conclusions about why certain vessels may outperform others. This benefits bycatch species as well, specifically choosing areas and conditions where target species prefer to be and where bycatch is unlikely to be present.
WHG and CLS employ a full-time team of in-house oceanographers to assist customers with fishing recommendations and product support, translating these advanced tools into actionable recommendations for fishermen and regulators.
Expanding Market Reach
Over the next five years, small-scale, artisanal, and community-based fisheries will play an increasingly central role in global seafood production and coastal economies. These fisheries face challenges of limited resources, fragmented oversight, and growing regulatory requirements. WHG’s low-cost VMS solutions, electronic reporting systems, and user-friendly analytics are positioned to meet these needs while helping state and local managers collect reliable data and empowering fishermen to demonstrate sustainability.
WHG has also extended CATSAT to recreational and sportfishermen, recognizing the demand for advanced tools in this growing sector. For charter operators and private captains, CATSAT provides the same oceanographic intelligence used by commercial fleets—reducing search time, improving catch success, and supporting responsible fishing practices.
Future Technology: Kineis Constellation
The French-led Kineis constellation represents a significant advancement in space-based Internet-of-Things (IoT) connectivity. Developed by a consortium including Thales Alenia Space, Safran Data Systems, and the French space agency (CNES), it comprises 25 low-Earth-orbit nanosatellites and 20 ground stations. Each satellite carries an ultra-high-frequency IoT receiver, a maritime automatic identification system (AIS) receiver, and a UHF/S-band transmitter.
From a fisheries perspective, Kineis will extend reliable connectivity to remote fishing grounds and coastal areas that currently lack terrestrial network coverage. NEMO devices will transmit routine position and catch data through the constellation at low cost, ensuring small-scale vessels remain visible even when beyond cellular range. Beyond fisheries, the constellation’s global coverage supports applications including wildlife tagging, infrastructure monitoring, hazard detection, and scientific maritime research.
Looking Ahead
As fisheries worldwide adapt to climate variability, market pressures, and stricter regulations, data-driven management will be essential. Woods Hole Group, backed by CLS Group’s global satellite infrastructure, remains committed to delivering innovative, scientifically rigorous, and practical solutions. From industrial trawlers in the North Atlantic to artisanal fleets in coastal communities, WHG is shaping the future of fisheries monitoring and ocean intelligence—ensuring that both people and marine ecosystems can thrive.
Jason Surma is Business Development Manager at Woods Hole Group. Industry Focus is an ongoing series of informational articles profiling companies involved in electronic monitoring and other fishtech pursuits. To include your company for the first time or to publish an update article like this one, please drop us a line at info@em4.fish.
