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Remote electronic monitoring and the landing obligation – some insights into fishers’ and fishery inspectors’ opinions

This study focuses on Danish fishery inspectors and on fishers with Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) experience, whose opinions are less well known. Their views on the landing obligation and on the use of REM were investigated using interviews and questionnaires, and contrasted to some fishers without REM experience. 80% of fishery inspectors and 58% of REM-experienced fishers expressed positive views on REM. 9 out of 10 interviewed fishers without REM experience were against REM. Participation in a REM trial has not led to antipathy towards REM. Fishery inspectors saw on-board observers, at-sea control and REM as the three best solutions to control the landing obligation but shared the general belief that the landing obligation cannot be enforced properly and will be difficult for fishers to comply with. The strengths and weaknesses of REM in this context are discussed. 

Authors:
Kristian S. Plet-Hansen, Søren Q. Eliasen, Lars O. Mortensen, Heiðrikur Bergsson, Hans J. Olesen, Clara Ulrich