Last week saw a meeting which examined the strategic opportunities for implementing Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) onboard UK fishing vessels. As the industry faced an increasingly digital landscape, the discussion focused on how technology could enhance both operational efficiency and environmental stewardship.
While REM had previously been confined to various regional trials and pilot projects, the meeting highlighted its transition into a core regulatory fixture. At the time of the session, the technology was moving toward becoming a mandatory requirement for pelagic vessels in Scottish waters, with wider national implementation already in progress.
Key Areas of Focus
The session addressed the critical intersection of technology and commerce, specifically focusing on:
Regulatory Transition: The shift from voluntary participation in trials to the upcoming mandatory requirements across the UK fleet.
Traceability and Market Value: How REM data served to bolster seafood traceability, offering businesses a distinct advantage in markets that prioritised transparency.
Industry Engagement: The importance of the UK seafood sector utilising this period to influence how digital systems were designed to support, rather than disrupt, business operations.
By convening key stakeholders, the meeting sought to ensure the UK seafood sector remained at the forefront of global innovation, turning technical compliance into a foundation for long-term sustainability.
The following speakers shared presentations:Morning session:
The operational case in Scotland: policy objectives, regulatory readiness, feedback loops for adaptive regulation and case studies, Ellen Huis, Scottish Government
The process of adopting REM for Denmark's fishermen and the experience of applying it in mixed fisheries, Jacob Handrup, Danish Fishers PO
UK industry perspective of applying REM in a mixed fishery, lessons learned and what's needed to make REM a success, David Stephens, Cornish fisherman
Afternoon session:
Reducing bias: the benefits of full fleet coverage to industry, Dr Chris Brown, University of Tasmania
Who owns the data and making the right choice, Elinor Brett, Defra, and Rebecca Lamb, Cefas
A 'voice from the deck' as an early adopter of REM in the UK: reflections of risks and benefits for industry, Phil Haslam, North Atlantic Fishing Company
