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Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)

In relation of the implementation of article 15 of the CFP, the Landing Obligation (LO), the likelihood of detecting an infringement to the LO at sea is very low. Although the implementation of the Last Haul (LH) observation during sea inspections has contributed to a level of monitoring of compliance with the LO, it cannot be considered a control tool sufficiently effective for control and enforcement of the LO across all relevant fisheries.

The evaluations of compliance with the LO done to date show a widespread low level of compliance in some fisheries. This has led to the recommendation by control experts from EU Member States (MS) to prioritise the use of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) including Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) as an efficient control and monitoring tool to improve compliance and enforcement of the LO implementation. REM systems have been identified by control experts as a tool that would provide the MS with the proportionate and effective operational solution for monitoring the compliance to the LO across fleet segments of the EU fishing fleet and tackling illegal discarding practices. In 2021 EFCA released a video showcasing the main features of Remote Electronic Monitoring in EU Fisheries Control.

On request of the EU Member States and the European Commission, EFCA created in 2018 the REM Technical Working Group to develop the Technical Guidelines and minimal requirements for implementing REM fisheries in the EU. This Working Group (EFCA REM WG) is still active with the goal of assisting MS in the implementation of regional / national REM pilot projects and consider best practices for REM implementation on fishing vessels, including to provide means to effectively control and enforce the LO at sea and to potentially provide a source of verifiable data.

EFCA will continue to support MS and the European Commission on the effective implementation of the LO through promoting enforcement and compliance and pursuing the most efficient tools and new technologies, in particular the use of REM systems on board fishing vessels.