Aiming to boost the enforcement of fisheries regulations, Commissioner Kadis lays out the European Commission’s stance on the new Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) systems for fishing vessels. This move targets fishermen, regulatory bodies, and environmental watchdogs as it seeks to ensure compliance with the landing obligation, a key pillar of the Common Fisheries Policy. The stakes are high: stricter monitoring means better fisheries sustainability but also raises concerns about privacy and operational burdens.
This answer responds to a parliamentary question from MEP Asger Christensen of the Renew group, who queried about the coherence and proportionality of REM-based control under Regulation (EU) 2023/2842. Christensen focuses on whether the Commission would simplify and streamline the control frameworks currently layered with multiple overlapping instruments.
Commissioner Kadis’ reply clarifies that Regulation 2023/2842 mandates REM for vessels 18 metres or longer that pose high risks of non-compliance, emphasizing targeted monitoring confined to active fishing gear and areas displaying fishery products to protect privacy. Kadis acknowledges that while REM is proven effective, the regulation is specifically designed for monitoring the landing obligation and is not equivalent to establishing a “fully documented fisheries” system. The Commission does not plan pilot projects but notes that the European Fisheries Control Agency facilitates voluntary REM trials by Member States.
The policy direction embraces greater technological enforcement through targeted use of REM but resists expanding to a fully documented fishery approach, highlighting a balance between increasing regulatory precision and limiting overreach. This framework strengthens EU control powers while seeking appropriate privacy safeguards.
For stakeholders, fisheries authorities gain a more reliable tool to enforce landing rules, yet fishermen will face heightened scrutiny that could increase operational complexity. Environmental NGOs may welcome the environmental accountability, whereas privacy advocates might see only limited protection in the regulations. The Member States’ control agencies are tasked with coordinating technically demanding REM implementation.
Looking ahead, the Commission will implement these provisions starting January 2028 and develop secondary legislation in preparation, signaling a steady institutional push towards integrating advanced monitoring technologies, though without fully revising the regulatory structure to remove existing layers. The response highlights ongoing negotiations between innovation, enforcement, and proportionality in fisheries governance.
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