Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many fishing vessels are fitted with remote electronic monitoring cameras; what proportion of all fishing vessels this represents; and what, if any, enforcement actions have been taken since their deployment.

The enforcement of fisheries management measures and scientific monitoring of fish stocks are devolved policies. In England, Defra is working on a rolling programme where remote electronic monitoring is phased in across different fisheries in stages.

There is currently one vessel volunteering for the early adopter stage of the large pelagic trawler fishery. Further vessels are taking part in technical trials and scientific research projects. Defra is working to recruit volunteers for further priority fisheries and will work with those volunteers to design and test systems ahead of moving to mandatory requirements.

No enforcement actions have been taken as a result of the deployment of remote electronic monitoring on these vessels. Any infringements seen via remote electronic monitoring will however be acted upon in a proportionate way.