The State’s fisheries regulator is seeking a number of Irish-registered fishing vessels to take part in a pilot project involving remote electronic monitoring (REM).
The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) says it has written to fisheries producer organisations to encourage participation by a small number of vessels in the pilot project, having failed to find volunteers among the fleet so far itself.
The technology to monitor fishing may become a legal requirement within the EU, and the pilot project is part of a larger EU north-western waters initiative, the SFPA says.
REM allows for the remote monitoring of fishing vessels, providing “valuable information on fishing activity and compliance with regulatory requirements, including the landing obligation”, the SFPA says.
“The legislative introduction of REM in fisheries control at European level is nearing certainty, having passed through the initial consultative stage, through the European Parliament and back for final consultations,” SFPA executive chair Paschal Hayes says.
He says there has been work in areas of Britain, including Scotland, to mandate the use of REM for some areas and some fisheries, “which may impact Irish fishers”.
“Therefore, we feel it is important that we gain real and meaningful experience of REM and put ourselves in a position where both the SFPA and the Irish fishing industry can guide and advise on the technicalities of REM, its introduction and uses,” he says.
“Ireland holds the largest stake in the northwestern waters, and gaining experience of REM is, we feel, of significant importance for our fishing industry,” he says.
“We believe that this technology has the potential to bring significant benefits to the Irish fishing industry and in assisting the SFPA to fulfil its control and enforcement mandate for all fishing vessels operating in Ireland’s exclusive economic zone,” he says.
“Efforts by SFPA personnel to secure volunteer fishing vessels to participate in the REM pilot project have, to date, proved unsuccessful,” he says.
“Therefore, we are seeking the advocacy of Ireland’s fishery producer organisations to encourage a small number of Irish registered fishing vessels to participate in the REM pilot project,” he explains.
“The SFPA wishes to work with the Irish fishing industry to manage the introduction of REM, and to explore its potential benefits as well as address any concerns through the pilot project,” Hayes says.
