Fifty Danish Nephrops fishermen opt for voluntary onboard camera monitoring in Kattegat, signalling industry support for collaboration
Industry welcomes voluntary scheme after years of mandatory surveillance
Fifty Danish fishermen operating in the Kattegat Nephrops fishery have voluntarily agreed to have cameras installed on their vessels to allow fisheries authorities to monitor their catches and ensure regulatory compliance.
The scheme, launched by Denmark’s Fisheries Agency, marks a significant shift from previous mandatory surveillance policies, which many fishermen had criticised as intrusive and damaging to mental wellbeing.
“This clearly shows that voluntary schemes work,” said Svend-Erik Andersen, Chairman of the Danish Fisheries Association.
“Fishermen are responsible and have nothing to hide — they are willing to participate when incentives and fair conditions are offered.”
The move comes after years of tensions following a 2019 agreement brokered by then-Fisheries Minister Mogens Jensen (Social Democrats), which introduced mandatory camera surveillance in parts of the Kattegat. Fishermen had argued that compulsory monitoring was degrading and harmful to working conditions — claims later backed by a report from the University of Southern Denmark highlighting negative impacts on fishermen’s mental health.
Under the leadership of current Fisheries Minister Jacob Jensen (Liberal Party), the system has now shifted to a voluntary basis, despite criticism from green groups and left-wing parties.
“Credit to Minister Jacob Jensen for taking the initiative to introduce a voluntary system despite the political headwinds,” Andersen said.
“There can be no doubt now that voluntary agreements can work effectively in fisheries.”
Strong industry participation
The voluntary scheme was launched with a registration deadline of 31 March and has now entered into operation. It offers three different levels of participation:
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Group 1: Fifty fishermen have signed up for full camera monitoring for control purposes.
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Group 2: Five fishermen have opted for research participation, keeping cameras onboard but providing data solely to DTU Aqua for scientific studies.
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Group 3: Fifteen fishermen have chosen not to have cameras onboard, although some of these vessels are not currently active and have yet to finalise their decision.
Industry leaders are hopeful that the strong initial participation will lead to further regulatory easing and new incentives for compliant vessels.
The development is seen as a major test case for how voluntary compliance initiatives can balance sustainability, accountability, and the working rights of fishermen in an increasingly regulated European fishing sector.
Source: Press Release
