VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Fishing Vessels: Monitoring

Asked by Steve DarlingLiberal DemocratDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled Answered 19 June 2026UIN 8887

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she plans to mandate remote electronic monitoring on fishing boats in UK waters.

Answered by Stephen Morgan

Defra is committed to expanding the use of remote electronic monitoring in English waters. We are taking a targeted approach and have said that we will implement remote electronic monitoring in priority fisheries, working first with volunteers before moving to mandatory requirements.

In December 2025 Defra successfully completed a first volunteer project with a vessel from the pelagic trawl fishery. We are now working towards making remote electronic monitoring mandatory in this fishery and will make an announcement in due course.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim