Madeira in Portugal has become the first area to embrace the EU’s 2028 digital monitoring requirements. A pilot programme has been launched that gives fishing vessels GPS technology, alongside onboard cameras and sensors.
The idea of this is to record catches as well as to regulate fishing activity. The system has been installed across ten different vessels that target certain species, including black scabbardfish and tuna. Eventually, it will be rolled out to fisheries and management vessels to better regulate what’s being caught and where.
Fishing is a Huge Part of Portuguese Culture
Madeira’s fishing fleet has a strong association with tuna and black scabbardfish, but the country’s relationship with the sea goes way beyond that. Expo Fish Portugal is the biggest virtual space dedicated to any sea-related activity.
Podcasts like Lisbon Coast, Portugal Fishing Report Today also delve into local fishing news, as well as current weather conditions, to help fishermen navigate the sea. Anchored with April Vokey, which is available on Apple Podcasts, is another example.
The renowned angler often hosts face-to-face conversations with people who work in the sector to bring awareness to fishing. Interestingly, fishing is also a big theme in sectors like iGaming, with some of the top online slots UK titles from the 'Big Bass' franchise.
The UK, in particular, is known for world-class carp fishing as well as European sea bass fishing. The title features fish as well as fishing equipment, with the title focused on the excitement of reeling in a big trophy fish. The game mirrors the excitement of fishing in general, showing how deep fishing runs not just in Portugal but in other countries too.
That’s why the EU’s 2028 digital monitoring requirements are so important. The move has been made to try to support which fish are being caught and where, making each catch's data available in real-time.
The move is also going to affect UK fishing boats that venture to EU waters, with mandatory mobile applications used to report catches, species, and locations instantly. From 2028, REM systems are going to have CCTV cameras as a compulsory addition.
High-risk vessels, or vessels that are over 18 metres, will be monitored to ensure that fishermen are not discarding any unwanted catches.
Madeira is Moving Ahead of the Rest
Madeira is making headlines right now because it’s the very first region in Portugal to move ahead of the EU regulations. Rather than waiting for the deadline, regional authorities have already begun to install this technology on fishing boats.
The Madeira system has also been designed with privacy in mind, as the footage is processed and stored onboard rather than being sent directly ashore.
Regional authorities hope that this movie is going to position Madeira as one of the most advanced fishing regions, while also strengthening the long-term sustainability of the fishing sector.
Species such as tuna and black scabbardfish are essential to the local fishing sector as well, and there are hopes that the latest data transmissions will not only help fleets to monitor where they are, but also how much of them are being fished, and when levels are set to become dangerously low.
