Question reference: S5W-36213
- Asked by: John Finnie, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 11 March 2021
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Current status: Answered by Fergus Ewing on 19 March 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide an update on the roll-out of remote electronic monitoring equipment on Scottish inshore fishing vessels.
Answer
The Modernisation of the Inshore Fishing Fleet Programme will equip our commercial inshore fleet with appropriate and proportionate vessel monitoring and tracking systems. The Programme is part of our recently published Fisheries Management Strategy 2020-2030 which sets out our policy initiatives to protect the environment, and support a strong, sustainable and resilient fishing industry.
- At present over 30% of Scottish scallop dredge vessels are fitted with remote electronic monitoring (“REM”) systems, including cameras. We have been clear that legislation will be introduced - by the end of 2021 - to make the technology mandatory. Voluntary installations are ongoing but have inevitably suffered some delay due to Covid-19.
- As part of the Outer Hebrides Inshore Fisheries Pilot, close to 40 creel vessels have now been equipped with a with a low-cost tracking solution, which will report vessel position and provide feedback that accurately assesses fishing activity. This will test our ability to manage creel fishing effort within a significant area of sea and inform the wider deployment of tracking technology across the inshore fleet, planned to commence later this year.
- In addition, the vessels currently authorised to harvest razor clams are required to have a bespoke REM system on board.