Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 18 March 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it can confirm that all EU-flagged pelagic freezer trawlers that have operated in Scottish waters in the last year are now compliant with Scotland’s remote electronic monitoring requirements for relevant pelagic boats.
The remote electronic monitoring (REM) requirements for pelagic vessels came into force on 7 March 2026. All applicable pelagic vessels in Scottish waters, regardless of national origin, are required to adhere to the REM requirements as set out in the Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2024/165/body/made).
Relevant pelagic vessels (including EU-flagged freezer trawlers) were not required to be compliant with the REM legislation prior to 7 March. Any vessel that has yet to have its REM system installed and validated will not be in breach of the REM requirements unless they plan to fish.
Any relevant pelagic vessel that does intend to fish in Scottish waters must now carry and operate a fully validated REM system onboard. For Scottish registered vessels, this obligation applies wherever they operate.