Why REM matters
Strict rules on fishing gear, area closures, registration of catches, and management of bycatch are an important feature of modern fisheries management systems. Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) provides the oversight needed to make those rules effective — supporting control, inspection, and enforcement across diverse fisheries.
Gear Compliance
REM systems verify that vessels use authorised gear types and configurations, reducing illegal or unregulated fishing practices.
Area Closures
Real-time position tracking combined with camera data ensures vessels respect seasonal and permanent area closures designed to protect vulnerable stocks.
Catch Registration
Automated recording of catch events improves the accuracy and timeliness of landing data, supporting science-based quota management.
Bycatch Management
Onboard monitoring helps document and reduce bycatch of non-target species, a critical component of ecosystem-based fisheries management.
The objective of fisheries control, inspection, and enforcement is to ensure that all fishing activities comply with the relevant management framework. REM is a vital tool in achieving that objective — providing independent, verifiable records that strengthen the integrity of the entire system.
Interested in REM technology or fisheries monitoring projects at Matís? Get in touch with our team.
Contact UsRemote Electronic Monitoring represents a significant advancement in how fisheries are managed and regulated across the North Atlantic region. By combining GPS tracking, sensors, and onboard cameras, REM systems provide continuous oversight of fishing activities without requiring a physical inspector on every vessel. This technology enables fisheries authorities to verify compliance with gear restrictions, area closures, and catch reporting requirements in real time. For stakeholders ranging from small coastal operations to larger industrial fleets, REM offers a transparent and verifiable record of activities at sea. The data collected supports more informed decision-making by management bodies and helps build trust between regulators, scientists, and the fishing industry itself.
The implementation of REM technology has proven particularly valuable for managing bycatch and protecting vulnerable marine species. When cameras capture the full fishing process, including the sorting and release of unwanted catch, managers gain accurate information about what is actually being taken from the sea. This level of detail allows for more responsive and adaptive management measures, such as dynamic area closures triggered by observed bycatch events. For fisheries targeting species like flatfish and other groundfish, REM provides the accountability needed to maintain sustainable harvest levels while minimizing environmental impact. The technology also supports the development of more precise and effective fishing regulations over time.
Collaboration across national boundaries has been essential to advancing REM adoption in the North Atlantic fisheries sector. Projects involving partners from Iceland, Norway, Greenland, Denmark, and Canada have demonstrated how shared technical standards and best practices can accelerate the uptake of electronic monitoring systems. These cooperative efforts, often supported by Nordic funding programmes and research institutions, focus on knowledge transfer and capacity building among fisheries authorities and industry representatives. By working together, participating countries have developed common approaches to data collection, analysis, and enforcement that respect each nation's unique fisheries while promoting consistency across the region. Such international partnerships remain vital to the continued evolution of modern fisheries management.