Extend use of Remote Electronic Monitoring, advise Committee
12 November 2020
The EU Environment Sub-Committee writes to George Eustice, Secretary of State for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about the Remote Electronic Monitoring call for evidence.
- Letter from the Chair of the EU Environment Sub-Committee to George Eustice, Secretary of State for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 11 November 2020
- EU Environment Sub-Committee
Background
The EU Energy and Environment Sub-Committee published two reports on the implementation and enforcement of the EU landing obligation. In both the initial inquiry and its follow-up the Committee heard significant evidence on the role of Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) and reached the view that it has a number of benefits, including increasing compliance with fishing regulations, supporting enforcement efforts, and helping retailers to demonstrate the traceability of their products.
The Committee arrived at the following conclusion:
“Leaving the EU will give the UK Government and devolved administrations the power to place requirements on foreign vessels in UK waters. This gives Governments an opportunity to require remote electronic monitoring (REM) on all vessels, UK and non-UK, fishing in UK waters, thus removing any potential disadvantage to UK fishers. We urge Ministers to mandate the use of REM as soon as they are able to set their own rules for vessels operating in UK waters.”
The Committee therefore welcomes the Fisheries: Remote Electronic Monitoring Call for Evidence and has written to George Eustice, Secretary of State for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs about Remote Electronic Monitoring to draw a number of points to the department’s attention where the evidence heard by the Committee and conclusions reached are relevant to the questions posed.