Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) are responsible for overseeing commercial fishing in more than 95% of the world’s ocean. Managers must be able to track data on catch and vessel activity to ensure that fishing is sustainable, but such monitoring is difficult when vessels operate far from shore, beyond the reach and view of authorities.
Many RFMOs require observers onboard some types of vessels, but fisheries managers, scientists, and other stakeholders increasingly recognize the need to expand coverage to all vessels to more accurately assess catch, bycatch, fishing effort, and compliance with regulations. Electronic monitoring (EM) programs offer a way to complement human observer coverage and expand oversight to fleets that are not independently monitored.
These fact sheets and other resources are designed to help RFMOs and interested stakeholders create effective EM programs that will improve oversight of international fisheries while increasing transparency and accountability.
Regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) are responsible for overseeing commercial fishing in more than 95% of the world’s ocean. Managers must be able to track data on catch and vessel activity to ensure that fishing is sustainable, but such monitoring is difficult when vessels operate far from shore, beyond the reach and view of authorities.
In light of the impacts that COVID-19 has had on fisheries oversight, it is now clearer than ever that RFMOs need to embrace electronic monitoring. Although there may be challenges in developing an Electronic Monitoring (EM) program, those issues are solvable.
These fact sheets and other resources are designed to help RFMOs and interested stakeholders create effective EM programs that will improve oversight of international fisheries while increasing transparency and accountability.
The Pew Charitable Trusts’ conservation efforts—both in the U.S. and abroad—help to preserve wild places and rivers, restore biodiversity, and increase the understanding of ocean ecology. On land, we focus on conserving wildlife corridors, shorelines, and pristine landscapes, as well as advancing policies that prioritize investments in flood-ready infrastructure and national park maintenance. Pew also works to minimize the consequences of overfishing, pollution, warming waters, and loss of habitat. Our conservation goals are based on facts from science and data research.
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