Onboard cameras

Onboard cameras

Advantages

Addresses the underreporting of bycatch in logbooks. Bycatch detection rates can reach 80% for cetaceans. The use of cameras is a less expensive alternative to the onboard observer program and can be used on vessels that cannot accommodate observers.

Provides information to better tailor fisheries management.

Disadvantages

Does not prevent bycatch. Cameras may be poorly maintained and only capture a limited view of the vessel; they also raise privacy concerns. The collected data remains incomplete (catch composition, gear mesh size, etc.).

KEY WORDS

1- “I have them on board. I have nothing to hide because I don’t catch dolphins. It doesn’t bother me. On the other hand, colleagues who use monkfish nets don’t want to install cameras because they catch marine mammals. The cameras collect indisputable data, but there’s a ‘surveillance’ aspect to it."  trammel net fisherman  40–54 years old, Bay of Biscay, DELMOGES surveys 

2- “I’m afraid the images will be exploited by the wrong people. We have nothing to hide, but we don’t know what will be done with the data, and confidentiality must be respected. Above all, this must not keep the boats tied up at the dock if the cameras aren’t working, if there’s a technical problem.” Trawl fisherman, 25–39 years old, Bay of Biscay, DELMOGES surveys

3- “Yeah, because we’re always afraid of getting ratted out, you know. (...) It’s still a bit of a… professional environment. We’re afraid for our spots, which took years to find; we’re afraid they’ll be ratted out. Oh yeah, because there are the fishing zones too, yeah. Yeah, there’s everything.” Set gillnet fisherman  40–54 years old, Bay of Biscay, DELMOGES surveys