Rural Affairs and Islands Committee
Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024
Background
The Scottish Government laid the draft Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 on 22 March 2022. The instrument has been 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; and
- help deliver the confidence and accountability that consumers and members of the public want to see from seafood products.
Following the call for views, the Committee will take evidence from stakeholders on 24 April and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands on 1 May.
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.
View responses to the Call for Views