Pelagic fishing - remote electronic monitoring: guidance

1. Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) – Guidance for Pelagic Boats

1.1 Introduction

This document provides guidance for the Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024 (the REM legislation) [ https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2024/165/contents/made]

Remote inspections and system test trips (as per section 2.2 of this guidance) can be carried out from 7 September 2025. The Fully Documented Fisheries Unit (FDF) of the Scottish Government will be happy to advise on suitability of systems and answer any other queries you may have to help you prepare for REM (contact details are at 1.4).

The mandatory REM requirements for pelagic fishing trips come into force on 7 March 2026.

The REM legislation mandates the use of REM systems onboard certain categories of pelagic fishing boats operating in Scottish waters, and certain categories of Scottish registered pelagic boats wherever they fish, and sets out the various obligations that must be met. These include a number of data requirements which are set out in section 4 of this guidance and in a separate Privacy Notice which outlines how the Scottish Government intend to collect and process REM data in more detail^[1]

The technical specifications which REM systems installed onboard these categories of pelagic fishing boats must meet can be found at Annex B.

The REM legislation applies to pelagic Refrigerated Sea Water (RSW), Chilled Sea Water (CSW) and freezer boats which are 12 metres and over in length. More details about the categories of pelagic fishing boat to which the REM legislation applies are given below in the section titled “Which boats does this guidance apply to?”.

This guidance document is intended to provide affected pelagic masters, owners and charterers (if a boat has any charterers) with a general overview of the REM legislation as it will apply to relevant pelagic fishing boats and does not constitute legal advice on the REM legislation. It is the responsibility of masters, owners and charterers (if any) of pelagic boats to which the REM legislation will apply to ensure that they understand their duties under the legislation and how to ensure that fishing activities will be compliant with the legislation, as well as ensuring that those working on board the boat are aware of the rules. Masters, owners and charterers should seek independent legal advice if needed.

This guidance applies solely to the requirements as set out in the Sea Fisheries (Remote Electronic Monitoring and Regulation of Scallop Fishing) (Scotland) Regulations 2024) and its accompanying technical specifications. As neither the Scottish Ministers or the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate have a role in setting technical specifications for other jurisdictions, we recommend that vessels undertake appropriate investigations to determine what requirements for REM systems might apply elsewhere.

1.2 What is REM?

For pelagic fishing boats, REM involves the use of onboard cameras, winch sensors and Vessel Positioning Systems (VPS) to capture data that is used to enhance monitoring of fishing operations, effort and catch. Use of REM technologies will help to ensure that fishing activity remains sustainable, responsible and accountable. The legislation and introduction of REM supports the Scottish Government’s Fisheries Management Strategy^[2], the UK Joint Fisheries Statement^[3], and the delivery of the sustainability, precautionary, scientific evidence and bycatch objectives set out in the Fisheries Act 2020^[4], building on our approach to improve sea fisheries compliance and our scientific evidence base. The REM data gathered will be used to enhance decision making across the marine space.

1.3 Which boats does this guidance apply to?

Pelagic boats

The REM legislation applies to ‘relevant pelagic boats’, which are defined as:

A fishing boat that is 12 meters or more in length and is equipped with at least one of the following:

A chilled sea water system (CSW) A refrigerated sea water system (RSW) Freezer storage capabilities

And which uses nets in the Scottish zone (or, for Scottish pelagic fishing boats, in any waters) for the primary purpose of fishing for small pelagic species, such as:

Mackerel Herring Horse mackerel Anchovy Sardine Blue Whiting Argentines Sprat Boarfish

For the purposes of this guidance, the ‘Scottish zone’ is also referred to as ‘Scottish waters’ in this document and all boats captured by the above definition are referred to as ‘relevant pelagic boats’.

For which fishing trips does REM need to be fully operational?

For Scottish boats falling within the definition of a ‘relevant pelagic boat’, the REM legislation requires an REM system (which meets the technical specifications for REM systems onboard relevant pelagic boats) to be fully operational^[5] for the duration of all fishing trips in any waters during which the boat deploys a fishing net for the primary purpose of fishing for small pelagic species of fish.

For non-Scottish boats falling within the definition of a ‘relevant pelagic boat’, the legislation requires an REM system (which meets the technical specifications for REM systems onboard relevant pelagic boats) to be fully operational^[6] for the duration of all fishing trips in the Scottish zone during which the boat deploys a fishing net for the primary purpose of fishing for small pelagic species of fish. The REM system must be fully operational from the point a non-Scottish boat either leaves a Scottish port or enters Scottish waters and until they either return to a Scottish port or leave Scottish waters.

1.4 Who is the responsible fisheries authority?

The REM legislation has been prepared by the Scottish Government and approved by the Scottish Parliament. The Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government are responsible for the administration and enforcement of the legislation, on behalf of the Scottish Ministers. Marine Directorate officials will access, process and analyse data collected by the REM systems on all relevant pelagic boats, regardless of the flag or coastal state to which the boat belongs.

The Fully Documented Fisheries Unit (FDF) of the Scottish Government is the first point of contact if you have queries and can be contacted at FDF@gov.scot