Remote electronic monitoring (REM) is a camera monitoring tool placed upon fishing vessels which collects data for scientists to analyse and make science and policy more attuned to the state of the fishery.
Fishery
David Stevens is the skipper of Crystal Sea, based in Newlyn, Cornwall.
His vessel is a 20 metre twin rig trawler which catches a mix of demersal fish – haddock, lemon sole, monk fish, brill, red gurnard and John Dory.
He is part of the Responsible Fishing Scheme (RFS), an independent, audited assessment of the application of good practice for skipper and crew.
They participate in the KIMO International Fishing for Litter scheme.
The Issue
Often fishermen feel that their experience, insight and observations at sea are not listened to or factored into policy-making and scientific recommendations.
The Solution
David Stevens and his crew took part in the Catch Quota Trials, an EU-run initiative to monitor all catches by putting remote electronic monitoring devices (cameras) aboard his vessel, to fully document the fishery and to discourage discarding.
To this day they continue to work with cameras aboard their vessel to collect data which will provide fishery managers which feeds a large amount of data into the system to make science and policy more attuned to the state of the fishery.
The Process
The Catch Quota Trials (CQT) scheme run by the EU, offered incentives for fishermen to put cameras aboard their vessel.
Sensor data is collected through the fishing activity, such as completed hauls and the location. The cameras collect video data such as catch information and is in operation often from the moment the vessel leaves the harbour.
The cameras on board created a different environment and mindset for David and his crew to work in initially, but they now see the cameras as a scientific tool which helps them to reverse the burden of proof.
When David and his crew bring in their trawl nets, they set about sorting the catch and gutting the fish. The fish are washed down and sent down to the hold where they are put into iced boxes as quickly as possible to retain freshness of the catch.
The data is analysed by scientists when they get back ashore. From this they can see that no fish are being discarded back into the sea and they can gauge a stronger idea on the health of the stocks.
So far David has seen a bounce back in stocks, so he is confident they are doing something right and he is happy to carry the cameras aboard his vessel to be part of this important data collection.
David started to work with the Cornish Fish Producer Organisation (CFPO) to see how they could increase the data sets beyond one vessel and one data set.
He sees great benefit for industry to be involved. With a team of fishermen collecting data they better able to communicate the challenges faced by the fishery.
With area 7 Haddock as a starting point, David was able to prove the data being collected by other EU member states was not up to the same standard as in the UK. The relative share had been a huge obstacle, the UK had 10% of EU catch, but 60% of the catch was in the UK waters. There was nowhere near enough quota to manage and balance the fisheries.
Now David is working on improving the data sets on cod and looking to 2026, as the UK has 9% share of the quota on cod, and 60% of the cod stocks are in UK waters. He is forecasting ahead and working on collecting data on bass and haddock
Utilising the fishermen’s knowledge and experience of the stocks alongside quality scientific data, they are able to influence management measures put upon their fishery.
“I now have a greater understanding of what is happening in the room with science and management, such as on stock modelling and policy which I can relay back to other fishermen”
