Improving bycatch monitoring in pelagic longline fisheries with cameras

Oli Yates, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) is a co-contributor to a report, for which a website announcement follows:

“FCF Co., Ltd. (FCF), in collaboration with National Taiwan Ocean University (NTOU) and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), has successfully completed the CATCH+ (Catch Assessment Through Camera & Hardware) project, a joint initiative designed to enhance understanding of bycatch through the analysis of Electronic Monitoring (EM) data and to support practical fisheries improvement efforts.

The project analyzed EM data collected between 2023 and 2025 from six distant-water longline vessels operating in the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.  The assessment covered 442 reviewed fishing sets, approximately 1.55 million hooks, and 13 617 manually reviewed EM video events.

The findings demonstrate that EM systems can provide valuable information on catch interactions, species identification, and spatial and seasonal distribution patterns.  Results confirmed a potentially higher risk of seabird interactions in waters south of 35°S, with around 70% of interactions occurring in this region, but accounting for only 15% of fishing effort assessed.  RSPB experts further determined that approximately 95% of observed seabirds could be identified to a broader taxonomic group, while around 35% could be identified to species level when sufficient distinguishing features were visible.

The project also highlighted that the effectiveness of EM programs depends heavily on factors such as camera placement, image quality, review protocols, and crew compliance.  As a result, CATCH+ identified several priorities for future EM development, including enhanced camera coverage, improved image quality, standardized review procedures, strengthened crew training, and more effective mechanisms to convert monitoring results into corrective actions and continuous improvement.

For FCF, the project reinforces the view that Electronic Monitoring is more than a surveillance tool. It serves as a valuable source of evidence and learning, transforming operational data collected at sea into actionable insights for fisheries improvement.

FCF plans to apply the lessons learned from CATCH+ to the continued development of its EM programs, including system specifications, review processes, crew engagement, and performance expectations for EM service providers and data reviewers.  These efforts aim to further strengthen fisheries transparency and support the long-term sustainability of global seafood supply chains.

The CATCH+ Executive Summary Report, released alongside this announcement, provides a detailed overview of the project’s methodology, key findings, limitations, and recommendations for future implementation.”

With thanks Oli Yates, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

Reference:

Ting-Chun Kuo, Pei-Hsuan Sung, Oli Yates & Chia-Hao Mai 2026.  CATCH+ Catch Assessment Through Camera & Hardware Using Electronic Monitoring to Strengthen Bycatch Monitoring in Pelagic Longline Fisheries.  Executive Summary Report.  12 pp.

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 07 October 2026