Brussels, 24/02/2016 (Agence Europe) - In a report published on Wednesday 24 February, the WWF calls for the comprehensive use of on-board cameras for fishing boats, as a means to monitor the ban on fish discards.
The WWF report on remote electronic monitoring of fishing operations is based on trials carried out by the United Kingdom and compares the on-board camera system on boats with traditional methods (aerial and boat surveillance, onboard observers, and dockside checks). According to the NGO report, the Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) reveals that REM could offer a far more efficient and cost effective way of monitoring fishing activity and improving information on fish stocks.
The cameras, which would be used in conjunction with GPS and electronic sensors, can record continuous video during fishing. The video data can be compared against the fishermen's logbooks to confirm that the landing obligation is being implemented effectively.
The report shows that all 10-metre plus EU fishing vessels could be monitored for 10% of the time they are at sea, for a cost of around €122 million.
The WWF points out that between 2010-12, on average 40% of demersal fish such as cod, haddock, plaice, caught in the North Sea were discarded in the sea. The EU is phasing in a gradual ban on discards (therefore, a landing obligation in the ports for all fish species) from 1 January 2015. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)