South West fishing boats fitted with monitoring equipment

Small fishing boats have been fitted with monitoring technology so authorities know where and when they’re fishing.

Eighty-four boats across the South West have been equipped with the monitors.

Until recently only the larger boats had to report where they were.

Devon has 15 protected areas where the trawlers can’t go and 42% of the south coast is protected for conservation value.

If the vessels enter the protected areas the monitors allow the authorities to review their activity and “react accordingly”.

Devon and Severn Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority says it will enable their “ability to monitor positions of vessels at the frequency of 10 minutes or less.”

The authority is the first in the UK to use the technology which tells them the name of the boat, it’s exact position and where the vessel has been in the last three days.