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Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024

Background

The Scottish Government laid the draft on 22 March 2022. The instrument was referred to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee for consideration.

The legislation would require the use of remote electronic monitoring (REM) systems on certain scallop and certain pelagic boats, wherever they are fishing. REM uses cameras, along with gear sensors and GPS trackers, to collect data on the size of catches as well as the types of species being caught.

The policy note published with the draft regulations state the policy objectives are to:

• improve the capacity to monitor fishing activity in the Scottish zone, and the fishing activity of Scottish fishing vessels wherever they operate
• deter non-compliant fishing activity and provide confidence that fishers are complying with the rules and regulations that are in place
• enhance the evidence base on which decisions are taken by the Scottish Government or other relevant public authorities, including the provision of scientific advice and decisions relating to wider marine planning
• help deliver the confidence and accountability that consumers and members of the public want to see from seafood products

Call for views

The Committee held a call for views on the legislative proposals to require the use of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) systems on certain scallop and pelagic boats, wherever they are fishing. 

The call for views closed on Monday 8 April 2024.

Following the call for views, the Committee took evidence from stakeholders on 24 April and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands on 1 May.

A record of all the committee meetings

Committee Report

The Committee published its report on 1 May 2024.