The problem

Since the introduction of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in 1983, there has been a requirement for recording fish catches in a standard community format. Initially, this was done by completing paper records at the time of landing. Now skippers maintain catch records at sea while fishing. These logbooks have become an integral tool for monitoring and enforcement. But it is recognised that greater use could be made of these documents– both by scientists and managers – if they were more readily available in an electronic format.

Overview:

SHEEL aims to develop, implement and demonstrate a European electronic logbook for fisheries. In order to do so, the project will develop an electronic entry system that:

• Allows for the varying data collection requirements of Member States
• Ensures all data are based on a mutually compatible, or harmonised, reporting system
• Is fully harmonised to permit the reliable and confidential – i.e. secure – transfer of information between all European marine-resource management authorities

Contribution to policy development:

• SHEEL will enable fishery managers to respond on a daily basis to actual European fleet performance
• It will enable fishery managers to develop and demonstrate a common means of resource management and enforcement across Europe’s fishing fleets. This will reassure all European fishery stakeholders that a standard measure is being applied
• The system will help policy-makers make more timely decisions to ensure that appropriate management action is taken to safeguard the long-term sustainability of fish stocks

Project deliverables

• System specifications – January 2005
• On-shore system prototype ready for trials – July 2005
• On-board and on-shore systems demonstrations – January 2006
• Consolidated trials and assessment of full system – July 2006

Dissemination

• Newsletters – January 2005/6
• Inception report – January 2005
• Mid-term project review and report – July 2005
• Guidelines for preparing harmonised operating systems and final activity report – July 2006

Technical information

Project acronym: SHEEL
Project’s official full title: Secure and Harmonised European Electronic Logbook
Research priority: Modernisation and sustainability of fisheries, including aquaculture-based production systems
Specific webpage: http://intelligence.jrc.it/marine/sheel/sheel.htm
Proposal/contract no: 502153
Start date: 1/1/2004
Kick off meeting: 2-3 February 2004
Completion date: 1/7/2006
European Commission scientific officer: Sigurdur Bogason (Sigurdur.bogason@ec.europa.eu)

Coordinator:
Name: INESC Inovação - Instituto de Novas Tecnologias
Abbreviated Name: INOV
Address: Rua Alves Redol, no. 9, Apartado 13069, 1000-029 Lisboa
Country: Portugal
Contact: Fernando Moreira, Director
Tel: +351 21 310 0313
Fax: +351 21 314 5843
Website: www.inesc.pt

The Commission’s Joint Research Centre acts as the Technical Correspondent for the project consortium.
General questions regarding the SHEEL project may be addressed to: evangelos.kotsakis@jrc.it

Partners

Name: Omni Tracking Systems Limited
Abbreviated Name: OTS
Country: UK

Name: C-Trace Limited
Abbreviated Name: C-Trace
Country: UK

Name: Sainsel Sistemas Navales,SA
Abbreviated Name: Sainsel
Country: Spain

Name: Sodena SA
Abbreviated Name: Sodena
Country: France

Name: Radiomidun Ltd
Abbreviated Name: Radiom
Country: Iceland

Name: Directorate of Fisheries
Abbreviated Name: Fiskeridir.no
Country: Norway

Name: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Abbreviated Name: DEFRA
Country: UK

Name: National Board of Fisheries
Abbreviated Name: NBF
Country: Sweden

Name: Marine Environment Board, Ministry of Environment
Abbreviated Name: MEB
Country: Latvia

Name: General Inspection Service of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries
Abbreviated Name: AID
Country: The Netherlands

Name: Portuguese General Inspectorate of Fisheries
Abbreviated Name: DGPA
Country: Portugal

Name: Secretaria General de Pesca Maritima
Abbreviated Name: SGPM
Country: Spain

Name: Icelandic Directorate of Fisheries
Abbreviated Name: DoF/IS
Country: Iceland

Name: Joint Research Centre
Abbreviated Name: JRC
Country: EU

Name: GlobalSign NV/SA
GlobalSign
Country: Belgium

Name: Fisheries Research Institute, University of Iceland
Abbreviated Name: FRI
Country: Iceland

Name: North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission
Abbreviated Name: NEAFC
Country: UK

Name: Navigs s.a.r.l
Abbreviated Name: Navigs
Country: France

Name: INMARSAT
Abbreviated Name: INMARSAT
Country: UK

Name: Thrane and Thrane A/S
Abbreviated Name: T&T
Country: Denmark

Name: Ubizen
Abbreviated Name: Ubizen
Country: Belgium

Name: Eutelsat
Abbreviated Name: Eutelsat
Country: France

Name: Direction des Pêches Maritimes et de l'Aquaculture
Abbreviated Name: DPMA
Country: France

Name: ELSACOM Spa
Abbreviated Name: ELSACOM
Country: Italy