A quick guide to electronic monitoring and how the technology enables more sustainable management of fisheries and the ocean environment

From the deck of a fishing vessel to the supply chain on shore, electronic monitoring (EM) gives fisheries another set of ‘eyes and ears’ alongside human oversight. By recording catch, bycatch, transshipment, and landings in real time, EM provides crucial data that strengthens sustainable fishing, builds transparent supply chains, and helps protect ocean ecosystems.

As we speak, these systems are actively helping redefine how fisheries are monitored, offering another layer of visibility into activity at sea, as well as new insight on vessels too small for human observers.

What is electronic monitoring?

An electronic monitoring system is an advanced fishing-monitoring system installed on fishing vessels that integrates a set of components to continuously record information during fishing trips. 

These always-on systems typically include cameras linked to GPS to log vessel position, along with sensors that trigger recording during specific onboard activities, such as sorting catch and setting or hauling fishing gear. For example, Japanese company Zenkai+ uses onboard and underwater cameras to track the types and amounts of fish caught, while in Atlantic Canada, the Ecology Action Centre uses a two-camera system to record 100% of rod-and-reel swordfish fishing, complementing traditional harpooning and providing detailed data on bycatch.

As a monitoring, control, and surveillance tool, EM can supplement onboard human observers, improving data accuracy while freeing personnel time and helping reduce the risk of lost or damaged paper logs. Similarly, EM can support voluntary commitments, bolstering the integrity of and consumer confidence in sustainable seafood certification programs.

How electronic monitoring fuels sustainable fisheries

Electronic monitoring helps fisheries and intergovernmental organizations advance sustainability goals in various ways, from tracking activity at sea to supporting transparent seafood supply chains.

• Documenting fishing activity and bycatch. EM captures what happens on board fishing vessels, including catch handling, bycatch, discards, and gear use. This visibility supports responsible fishing practices and provides a clearer picture of fishing activity at sea.
• Verifying compliance and deterring illegal activities. By recording fishing operations, EM helps regulators confirm that activities align with applicable rules and can discourage illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Regional fisheries management bodies are increasingly incorporating EM into oversight frameworks as a way to expand coverage beyond traditional observer programs.
• Enabling seafood traceability and supply chain transparency. EM-generated data can be linked with electronic reporting systems, helping connect how fish are caught to downstream documentation. This linkage supports traceability efforts and increases confidence in sustainability and sourcing claims across the seafood supply chain.

Where electronic monitoring is gaining traction

Electronic monitoring adoption is expanding globally, with fisheries at different stages of implementation depending on regional priorities and governance structures. Rather than following a single model, EM is being adopted through a mix of pilot programs, voluntary uptake, and formal standards, particularly in fisheries where observer coverage is difficult to scale.

In tuna fisheries, progress is increasingly coordinated at the regional level. 

Most of the world’s tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) have introduced or adopted EM-specific standards, while others are actively developing frameworks and implementation processes. 

At the national and fleet level, adoption is also increasing. Roughly 20% of China’s tuna fishing vessels — more than 100 vessels — were equipped with EM systems by late 2024, largely through voluntary deployment driven by internal management needs and supply chain expectations. In the Pacific Islands and on the high seas, countries including the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the Marshall Islands are piloting and scaling EM on longline vessels to strengthen oversight and address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. 

In Europe, the European Fisheries Control Agency has expanded the use of remote electronic monitoring on larger vessels to support enforcement of landing obligations, signaling broader uptake beyond observer-based approaches.

The United States also demonstrates the diversity of EM implementation, with 14 programs spanning small-boat fixed gear in Alaska, Atlantic pelagic longline fisheries monitoring bluefin tuna bycatch, and groundfish fisheries on the Northeast and West Coast using EM to audit logbooks and support compliance. 

The future of sustainable fisheries monitoring is electronic

While electronic monitoring is not yet universal, its role in fisheries management and seafood transparency is clearly expanding. As standards mature, costs decline, and digital reporting systems become more integrated, EM is poised to move from a complementary tool to a central element of sustainable fisheries and transparent supply chains.

With the clock ticking on sustainable fisheries, electronic monitoring systems are becoming the eyes and ears managers need to see — and respond to — what’s happening at sea in real time.

To learn more about how these and other emerging technologies are supporting ocean protection, read the report.