Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM)

The purpose of this Prior Information Notice (PIN) is to alert potential technology suppliers to an opportunity in relation to the Department of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) programme.<br/>Defra intend to run an open tender to procure REM technology and services. This procurement will be specific to the early adopter vessels volunteering to join our programme. Decisions about our approach to long term implementation will be made at a later date. <br/>At this stage of the programme Defra would like to understand which suppliers could provide REM technology consisting of a number of digital cameras, different types of sensors, GPS and a REM control box.<br/><br/>Defra would like to test a range of monitoring objectives across 4 fisheries: <br/>

• Fishery B:<br/>Over 10m Demersal seines (flyseines) in English waters of the Southern North Sea and English Channel (ICES areas 4c, 7d and 7e).<br/>Likely monitoring objectives: Catch composition information and verification, improved data on non-quota species.<br/><br/>
• Fishery C:<br/>Over 10m Demersal trawls using mesh sizes up to 120mm in English waters of the North Sea (ICES area 4b).<br/>Likely monitoring objectives: Catch composition and discards.<br/><br/>
• Fishery D:<br/>Over 10m Fixed and drift nets (gill and trammel) in English waters of the Celtic Sea and English Channel (ICES areas 7e-j). <br/>Likely monitoring objectives: Interactions with sensitive species, improved catch and discards information. <br/><br/>
• Fishery E:<br/>Over 10m Demersal trawls including beam trawls in English waters of the Celtic Sea and English Channel (ICES areas 7e-j). <br/>Likely monitoring objectives: Monitoring discarded fish, improved data on non-quota species. <br/><br/>Defra anticipate that we will be seeking REM technology for volunteer fishing vessels in each of the fisheries above over the course of 4 years. Defra anticipate needing technology for up to 3 vessels per fishery - likely 4 to 12 in total.<br/>Defra would also like to understand options for data access, sharing and storage.<br/>Defra are also interested in systems that have or could have automated analysis capabilities and are open to suggestions on additional functionality.<br/>Finally, Defra are interested to know whether suppliers would be willing to tender for both technology and installation.<br/>If you are an established REM technology provider and you would like to register your interest, please email [email protected] with a short summary (1 page) of technical capability in this area.<br/>The Authority reserves the right to communicate with interested parties for future requirements related to the area of REM.