The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs plans to require large pelagic trawlers in English waters to carry remote electronic monitoring (REM) equipment from November 2028, aiming to improve protection for fish stocks and marine wildlife.
The department announced the plan Nov. 9 and said implementation depends on parliamentary timings. REM would give officials a record of vessel operations: camera footage, sensor data and GPS traces can help show where boats fish and what they catch.
The records would also cover unintended captures of marine mammals, seabirds and sharks. Pelagic trawlers operate in open water and target schooling fish such as mackerel and herring.
The rule would add boats that do not yet have REM to a fleet where many vessels already use it. The department says a shared requirement would create more consistent standards across operators.
Fisheries Minister Stephen Morgan said better records could help researchers assess fish stocks. The department added that the information could help regulators identify harmful fishing methods and possible rule breaches, while supporting fisheries management decisions.
The policy followed a trial in which the department tested REM aboard a volunteer pelagic trawler. The requirement is due to start in November 2028, subject to parliamentary timings.
