10 March 2026, 06:00, London

Ten EU-linked freezer trawlers, all of them so-called supertrawlers over 100m long, spent an estimated 14,530 hours fishing in Scottish waters in the 12 months to 1 February 2026, according to new research from the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF). Since 7 March, Scotland has required cameras on board to monitor trawlers in its waters, and the rest of the UK and EU should follow suit, said the NGO.

The findings come amid concern over unreported discarding of fish at sea to make room for more valuable catch, which is illegal under both EU and UK law. However, pelagic freezer trawlers are seen as ‘high risk’, because of the intensity of their fishing and their targeting of high-volume species. When fish are discarded and not reported, the true volume caught is concealed, making high-risk supertrawler fishing essentially invisible.

Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM), including CCTV cameras on board vessels, is the key to tackling this, says EJF. REM provides independent, verifiable records of what vessels catch and if they throw anything away, keeping fishing intensity within legal limits by deterring illegal discards. EJF is calling for REM to be compulsory on all relevant pelagic vessels across UK and EU waters.

Progress has already begun. Since Saturday, Scotland has required REM, including CCTV cameras, on these supertrawlers when they are operating in Scottish waters. For non-Scottish vessels, this requirement applies to fishing activities in Scottish waters, whereas for Scottish vessels it applies regardless of where they are fishing. Therefore, these new rules only apply where the Scottish government has jurisdiction. Major gaps remain, however, as the rest of the UK and the EU do not currently require REM for supertrawlers despite their extensive operations in the region.

Steve Trent, CEO and Founder of EJF, said: “Between them, these 10 vessels spent over a year and a half of continuous fishing time in Scottish waters last year. Leaving such vast trawlers unmonitored opens the door to serious unreported fishing, with potentially devastating consequences for ocean life and coastal fishing communities. Scotland’s introduction this weekend of REM, including CCTV, is a decisive step forward. The rest of the UK and the EU must follow suit to ensure that all vessels across shared EU-UK waters achieve the same standards. The result will be fairer competition, stronger protection for fish populations and a sustainable fishing future.”

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The number of hours spent by EU-linked pelagic vessels in Scottish waters comes from an EJF policy brief available here.
• The analysis in the brief covers the period 1 February 2025 to 1 February 2026. By comparison, EJF analysis of Global Fishing Watch data suggests vessels from the same group of pelagic freezer trawlers spent an estimated 1408 hours fishing in French waters, 7748 hours fishing in Irish waters, and 298 hours fishing in Dutch waters over the same time period.
• Nine of the supertrawlers studied by EJF are flagged to EU Member States (one to the UK), and all have Dutch ownership connections.
• EJF also recommends that all states endorse and fully implement the recommendations of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a set of low- or no-cost steps which every nation can use to drive progress towards sustainable, legal and ethical fisheries.

About EJF

Our work to secure environmental justice aims to protect our global climate, ocean, forests, wetlands, wildlife and defend the fundamental human right to a secure natural environment, recognising that all other rights are contingent on this. EJF works internationally to inform policy and drive systemic, durable reforms to protect our environment and defend human rights. We investigate and expose abuses and support environmental defenders, Indigenous peoples, communities, and independent journalists on the frontlines of environmental injustice. Our campaigns aim to secure peaceful, equitable and sustainable futures. Our investigators, researchers, filmmakers, and campaigners work with grassroots partners and environmental defenders across the globe. For more information or to organise an interview with one of our team, please contact media@ejfoundation.org.