This article was featured in Eurofish Magazine 3 2025.
Fifty Danish fishermen have voluntarily installed surveillance cameras on their fishing vessels in a pioneering transparency initiative. The programme, led by the Danish Fisheries Association, aims to document catches and ensure compliance with fishing rules without mandating surveillance. Officials say this move—believed to be the first of its kind in Europe at this scale—will bolster sustainable fisheries management through cooperation rather than coercion. Most of the Kattegat’s Norway lobster fishers are now carrying cameras at sea under the voluntary scheme. The footage allows the Danish Fisheries Agency to remotely monitor catches and verify that regulations are followed. It clearly shows that voluntary measures work. Instead of forcing monitoring on the fishery, the way forward is to cooperate with the industry. Fishers are responsible and have nothing to hide—they are happy to participate as long as there are good incentives and fair conditions, said Svend-Erik Andersen, chairman of the Danish Fisheries Association to Ritzau. The association has pushed for a voluntary approach since 2019, after fishermen reported that earlier mandatory camera trials felt intrusive and harmed morale. A 2020 university study likewise found the forced monitoring had negative psychological effects on crews.
Denmark’s move positions it at the forefront of fisheries transparency in Europe. By opting in to digital monitoring, Danish fishers are aligning with broader EU efforts to modernise fishery controls. The European Union’s updated fisheries regulation calls for greater use of electronic monitoring—including onboard cameras—to strengthen compliance with sustainability rules. While several EU countries debate mandatory camera requirements, Denmark’s voluntary uptake stands out as an industry-led model. Observers say the Danish example could inform policy across Europe, demonstrating how collaboration and incentives can achieve accountability in fisheries management without alienating those working at sea.