Minimum standards for designing and implementing Electronic Monitoring systems in Indian Ocean tuna fisheries

Electronic monitoring (EM) using cameras and other sensors is a proven technology that has been widely used for various purposes on fishing vessels, primarily in industrial fleets. EM systems include equipment that tracks a vessel's position and activity, together with cameras that record key aspects of the fishing operations. EM has been used extensively for this purpose to obtain reliable information on catches and their composition, as well as to monitor and collect data on bycatches of Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) species.

EM pilot tests in different regions on tuna purse seiners and longline vessels, as well as in small-scale artisanal fisheries, have demonstrated the validity of this technology to improve the collection of fishery data. The IOTC endorsed the use of EM to assist in collection of fishery data to meet the minimum data requirements of Resolution 22/04 (on the Regional Observer Scheme) but requested that the IOTC Scientific Committee to firstly develop minimum standards for the implementation of Regional EM Program by 2023.
In support of this request, this document presents:

• Firstly, key background information on the different components to be covered by standards developed to support implementation of a regional EM program
• Secondly, draft EM Standards for WGEMS review including:
  a. Draft Regional EM Program Standard – covering program objective, purpose, scope, roles/responsibilities, guiding principles and vessel monitoring plans
  b. Draft EM Systems and Data Standard – covering the technical standards (for vessel EM systems), the logistical standards (for data retrieval, back up, chain of custody and frequency) and data analysis standards (including data review, quality, coverage, submission, storage, ownership, etc.)
• Thirdly, an assessment of EM capability to collect ROS data in different fisheries. This assessment is important in order to verify the capability, and ensure the replicability and accuracy of the information collected through EM (e.g. compared to data
  collected by human observers) with the purpose of improving the stock assessment and management process.

Thus, this document aims to foster the discussion on the development of EM minimum standards, for the implementation of Electronic Monitoring Program (EMP) for IOTC fisheries to address WGEMS ToRS as well as Resolution 22/04 requirement.