Electronic monitoring program

AFMA understands that the public is interested in the state of fisheries, especially the impact of fishing on the marine environment. This is why we use tools like electronic monitoring (e-monitoring) to see what is happening in the fisheries that we manage. By doing this, we can make the best decisions to ensure that our fisheries are sustainable now and into the future.

What is electronic monitoring

Electronic monitoring (e-monitoring) is a system of video cameras and sensors which monitor and record fishing activities which can be reviewed later to confirm what fishers report in their fishing logbooks.

E-monitoring provides an economical alternative to observers for collecting fisheries data and validating logbook reporting by fishers. Accurate logbook data increases confidence in stock assessments, ecosystem management and helps demonstrate fishery sustainability. 

Portions of the footage are reviewed and compared to logbook entries offering independent verification of fishing activity and ensuring consistent reporting standards across the fleet. AFMA provides feedback reports to concession holders after each reviewed trip to help track reporting accuracy.

Important Information

AFMA has recently updated its electronic monitoring (e-monitoring) program to:

• improve the cost-effectiveness of data collection and validation
• reduce regulatory burden
• improve the data used in fisheries management decisions. 

Standards-based program

AFMA is transitioning to a standards-based e-monitoring program to deliver reliable, flexible, and cost-effective independent monitoring for industry. 

We’ll approve types of e-monitoring systems that meet our technical standards and specifications, giving commercial fishers a choice of suitable tools that meet regulatory requirements. 

This approach encourages competition between service providers and supports innovation and emerging technologies, while ensuring all systems deliver strong value and performance for industry. 

Expansion of e-monitoring in Commonwealth fisheries

Federal funding has allowed expansion of our e-monitoring program into more Commonwealth fisheries including the:

• Great Australian Bight Trawl Sector (GABTS) and Commonwealth Trawl Sector (CTS) of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF)
• Northern Prawn Fishery (NPF)
• North West Slope Trawl Fishery (NWSTF)
• Western Deepwater Trawl Fishery (WDTF). 

The expansion aims to improves the cost-effectiveness of managing these fisheries by reducing regulatory burden, supporting market opportunities through export approval and eco-certification, and increasing spatial access using more scalable independent monitoring. 

AFMA’s e-monitoring program has been successfully implemented in multiple Commonwealth fisheries since 2015 including the:

• Eastern Tuna and Billfish Fishery (ETBF)
• Western Tuna and Billfish Fishery (WBTF)
• Gillnet Hook and Trap Sector (GHaT) of the Southern and Eastern Scalefish and Shark Fishery (SESSF)
• Midwater Trawl Sector of the Small Pelagic Fishery (SPF).

In-house review of footage

AFMA will now review e-monitoring footage internally rather than outsourcing it to a single contractor. This change enables the program to accommodate multiple service providers, giving fishers greater choice and encouraging competition for better value. It improves connectivity with fishery management to enable timely industry support. 

To support this transition, AFMA has engaged specialist software providers, CVsionAI, to customise review software that is intuitive, efficient, and fit for purpose. The software is built to evolve with the program, supporting AI and machine learning to speed up analysis, improve event detection, and deliver cost-effective monitoring into the future.

Benefits of electronic monitoring

E-monitoring has been successfully used in our Commonwealth Fisheries for over a decade. Key benefits include:

• cost-effective independent monitoring

• improved logbook data quality

• greater confidence in data which informs management decisions 

• the ability to verify that protected species interactions are being effectively avoided

• supporting the use of alternative gear 

• access to more fishing grounds under specific management conditions

• enhanced compliance outcomes

• more representative data across the fleet

• improving public and market confidence in sustainable practices.

Accurate logbook reporting improves stock and ecological risk assessments, especially for target, bycatch and protected species. This reporting strengthens sustainability and supports access to markets with strict monitoring requirements, including eco-certification.

How it works

An e-monitoring system includes components such as:

• three or more video cameras
• hydraulic pressure sensors
• drum rotation sensors
• a GPS receiver
• a satellite modem
• a control centre, and
• a monitor.

Rotation sensors on the drum or the vessel’s hydraulics trigger the video cameras to record both the gear being set and hauled. The control centre stores fishing activity footage and sensor data on hard drives. Some information such as vessel location is transmitted to AFMA for real-time monitoring. The monitor allows crew to run system checks and provides a live view of camera feeds.

Monitoring and data collection

E-monitoring data is used to independently verify fishers’ logbook information. We also provide feedback to fishers about how accurate logbook reports are and where improvements can be made. 

Read more about AFMA’s monitoring and data collection programs.