Barramundi fishers have called for an immediate halt to Queensland's controversial new vessel monitoring system (VMS) amid claims that devices are faulty, unreliable and a fire risk.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Listen Duration: 4 minutes 50 seconds 4 m 50 s Scott Stevens and David Lane say the VMS is 'flawed' and should be stopped ( Qld Country Hour: Charlie McKillop ) Download 2.2 MB

Karumba-based commercial operator, Scott Stevens, was livid after the unit he installed on his boat "melted out" and wiring on two other units also overheated and melted.

"It could've burnt my boat down while it was sitting on the trailer," he said.

"To me, it's a major fire hazard and they're making us put it on the boats."

The regulation, which came into effect on January 1, requires all commercial boats and dinghies to be fitted with tracking devices.

Failing to go to sea with a tracker could see fishers fines up to $131,000.

David Lane says he just wants to go back to work, but problems installing mandatory tracking devices have caused 'major headaches' for the Gulf barra fleet. ( Supplied )

But some fishers getting ready for the start of the barramundi season this week have been unable to comply, despite their best efforts to do so.

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Other reported problems with devices included recording incorrect polling times and software failures, which stopped it from working.

David Lane has had to return his faulty devices, after outlaying $3,000 installing them, and he said the only positive was it happened before he left port to start fishing.

"All we want to do is get back to work and do what Queensland fishermen and women do best and that's catch fish."

"[But] it's just a massive headache for the operator, in general, before he can even go to work."

Mr Lane said the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries had confirmed he would not be fined for not having trackers for the start of the barramundi season, but the delays, expense, and uncertainty around the implementation of the VMS has taken its toll.

"Most of the Queensland fishing industry is feeling gutted," he said.

"Up here in the Gulf, everyone's running around trying to install these trackers because they want them working by the time the vessels hit the water, and it's just not happening.

"There's a very low morale, there's no spring in their step like the start of every other season."

When boats go back to sea for the start of the fishing season in 2019, they're required by law to be fitted with tracking devices. ( Supplied )

Department defends VMS roll-out

In response to safety concerns, the Department has released advice from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, which states the vessel tracking units, including cabling, terminals and fuses, are the installer's responsibility, as is the case for other equipment on board.

Owners and operators must continue to ensure all electrical equipment on their boats meet the Australian standard 3004, as well as the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV).

But Mr Stevens said the Government has a duty of care to ensure the devices are safe, but instead are chose to "rush it through Parliament".

He said the units, provided by companies hand-picked by the Department, were not up to standard and had not been trialled properly.

"We're in a very remote area. [If] something happens out there you can't just walk home or ring a cab or get a lift, so it's a major concern," Mr Stevens said.

"I've got my wife, a crew member on the boat, you can't just say 'oh it's insured, it's alright'.

"That's my house on the water, that's my work, that's my pride and joy. It's everything."

The Department declined to be interviewed, but in a statement said trials were completed on a number of new vessel tracking units, resulting in four different models being approved for use.

"As with any large-scale rollout of modern technologies, a small fault rate is expected," the statement said.

"However, it should be noted that close to 600 units are functioning correctly."

The Department advised that fishers who believe they have a faulty unit, incorrect cabling or accessories for their unit to contact the provider.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, Mark Furner, confirmed a small number of commercial fishers had advised of problems with devices.

The spokesperson said that this was out of hundreds that were already installed and working properly, and that no fisher would be fined if they had made a genuine effort to meet the regulations.