Intro
The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) aims to ensure that fisheries are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable and provide a source of healthy food for EU citizens. The CFP adopts a cautious approach, which recognises the impact of human activity on all components of the ecosystem. It seeks to make fishing fleets more selective in what they catch, to phase out the practice of discarding unwanted fish and to fight unreported and unregulated fishing. These illegal practices deplete fish stocks, destroy marine habitats, distort competition, put honest fishers at an unjust disadvantage and weaken coastal communities, particularly in developing countries. The EU is working to close the loopholes that allow illegal operators to profit from their activities. To be successful, the EU needs to have in place a technologically advanced and effective fisheries control system.
Scope
Review existing and develop new technological solutions to improve: (i) detection of illegal discards; (ii) checks on weighing, weighing systems and accurate catch registration; (iii) data management and reporting and
third-party reporting based on remote electronic monitoring systems on vessels; (iv) risk management applied to fisheries; (v) monitoring and control of small-scale, recreational and long-distance fleet, (vi) electronic marking of fishing gear, (vii) identifying unreported and unregulated fishing activities as well as fisheries products stemming from those activities, (viii) promoting data standards and protection, remote access to data and automatic data exchange protocols, and (ix) innovative tools to assess compliance with technical requirements and measures applicable to fishing vessels
Objective
– Advancing the digital transition for fisheries inspection and control and deliver data for fisheries science, management and monitoring
– Delivering innovative technological solutions to support biologically complex data analysis
– Devise new monitoring and control strategies to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and promote sustainable fisheries in the EU and globally
– Create a new generation of jobs in the EU requiring digital and high-tech know-how applied to fisheries
