Large industrial-scale pelagic fishing vessels in English waters will be legally required to carry Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) equipment, including on-board cameras, sensors and GPS, from November 2028, subject to parliamentary timings, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs announced on 9 November 2026.

According to the department, REM provides an ongoing picture of fishing activity at sea, including where vessels are fishing, what they are catching and whether marine mammals, seabirds or sharks are being accidentally caught. Pelagic trawlers are large boats designed to catch shoaling fish such as mackerel or herring from open water. Many already have REM systems installed, and the new requirement is intended to bring the rest of the large pelagic trawl fleet into line.

Fisheries Minister Stephen Morgan said the step would allow fishing activity at sea to be fully monitored for the first time, describing it as support for a level playing field and for the evidence scientists need. Defra said REM evidence will help scientists build a more accurate picture of fish stocks and make it easier for regulators to act proportionately on harmful or non-compliant practices. The requirement follows a trial with a volunteer pelagic trawl vessel, whose lessons shaped the policy.