The efficiency of using remote sensing for fisheries enforcement: Application to the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery

•Reduced fisheries enforcement budgets require more efficient control tools.•VDS can complement VMS and aircraft inspections.•Development of a statistical model to measure the efficiency of VDS.•Application of the model to the Mediterranean bluefin tuna fishery with real data.•Results indicate that savings of 10–12% can be obtained through the use of VDS.

This paper analyzes the impact of applying vessel detection technology using satellite images (vessel detection system, VDS) to complement air patrols for fisheries enforcement and control. Due to limited fisheries enforcement budgets there is the need to allocate costs efficiently among competing control tools. This paper focuses on assessing the benefits of using VDS jointly with VMS (vessel monitoring system) and air patrol surveillance to improve effectiveness of controls. A statistical model to estimate the number of inspections was developed and was used with enforcement costs data as reported by a number of EU countries. The result of applying VDS in fisheries enforcement is presented in one of the most demanding fisheries enforcement contexts: the Mediterranean bluefin tuna (BFT) fishery.