The use of electronic observers and electronic monitoring represents an improvement in fisheries management since it allows for greater coverage of the fishing activity that complements the traditional observation carried out by human observers on board. However, as the use of these technologies represents an increase in the cost of operations, it is advisable to plan the actual percentage of implementation required in the fishing fleet to obtain optimal results. We carried out a case study of the trawl fisheries in northern Spain waters. Information provided by both VMS and logbooks was used to extract spatial and temporal information that describes the behavior of these fleets in the area. This data includes information such as vessel positions, time operating, catches of target species and fishing effort indicators. The objective of the study has been to use this time-consuming information to calculate the percentage of the fleet needed for that the real-time data obtained from electronic observers to be significant, as well as to identify areas with the largest fishing footprint that need further electronic monitoring and daily management. Once the coverage threshold is defined, the coverage of the electronic observer is determined to obtain the number of vessels required to be monitored in relation to the season and the areas of concentrated fishing effort and potential hotspots of fishing pressure. This alternative to the current management based on quotas would be more efficient in relation to the protection of the fishing resources of the study area since the Spanish trawl fleet has a mixed character in which several species are exploited simultaneously. These technologies facilitate adaptive management approaches as they identify trends, patterns and behavior in fishing activity, allowing for timely modifications to fishing regulations and practices based on accurate data

Poster.-- 9th World Fisheries Congress, 3 - 7 March 2024, Seattle, Washington, USA

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