EC passes electronic monitoring law

Under the new rules approved by parliament on 17 October, all boats will need to carry a tracking device. Some small-scale vessels may be exempted until 2030 and all small-scale fishing fleets will get up to four years to adapt. For the first time, recreational boats will also have to declare catches.

Rapporteur Clara Aguilera (S&D, ES) said it was a balanced agreement. “The new control rules will be harmonised and more transparent, with fully digital procedures.

“Fishers will have four years to adapt to the changes and the small-scale fisheries sector will benefit from simplified reporting obligations.”

The new law will apply in particular to fishing logbooks, transhipment declarations and landing declarations. Masters of vessels under 12 metres will be able to complete and submit a simplified declaration at the end of the fishing day, once they are in port and before landing.

The regulation also aims to tackle the current wide disparities between EU countries regarding sanctions. The value of fishery products caught by a vessel will now define the minimum level of fines applied to it in case of serious infringement of the rules.

The margin of tolerance will be set at 10% per species, with some exceptions for small-volume catches and for some species.

EU vessels of 18 metres or more that may pose a high risk of non-compliance will have to carry remote electronic monitoring systems, including closed-circuit television, with four years to make the necessary adaptations.

Operators will also have to ensure full supply chain visibility from sea to plate to help combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.