The Belize High Seas Fisheries Unit (BHSFU) has chosen Spanish technology company Satlink as the official electronic monitoring (EM) provider for its high-seas fleet. This partnership is part of Belize’s broader plan to deploy an Electronic Monitoring Programme (EMP) across its distant-water industrial fishing fleet by 2027, enhancing the country’s monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) capabilities while improving traceability and alignment with international fisheries standards.
Implemented by the BHSFU under Belize’s Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation framework, the project is supported by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and financed through the Belize Fund for a Sustainable Future. Through the integration of advanced electronic monitoring technologies, the program will support more effective fisheries governance and contribute to Belize’s long-term sustainability and ocean conservation goals.
Taking into account the nature of the Belize’s distant water fishing fleet, the project stands out for its global scope and simultaneous deployment across several countries, ensuring consistent and reliable monitoring of fishing activities regardless of geographic location. To support this international rollout, Satlink works closely with regional partners in key areas, combining technical deployment with capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening local expertise and ensuring the long-term operation and sustainability of the system.
EM systems already deployed combine onboard cameras, sensors, and positioning technologies to document fishing activity, identify species, estimate catches, and georeferenced fishing operations. Video footage and operational data are securely transmitted via Starlink connectivity and made available through Horus, Satlink’s cloud-based data review platform, supporting data analysis, reporting, and traceability. Digital Observer Services (DOS), Satlink’s specialized analysis subsidiary, then reviews the footage, analyzes fishing activity, and generates detailed monitoring reports for the BHSFU.
