Research progress on electronic monitoring in tuna longline fisheries

This paper presents a systematic review of recent research advances and practical applications of electronic monitoring systems (EMS) in tuna longline fisheries, with the aim of addressing persistent challenges in fisheries monitoring, including limited human observer coverage and constraints related to data quality and data timeliness. The technological evolution of EMS is examined from three key perspectives: hardware infrastructure, algorithm development, and system architecture. In addition, regional differences in technological implementation and governance frameworks are comparatively analyzed across major fishing regions, including the European Union, North America, Pacific Island countries, and China.Building on this analysis, the review further evaluates the principal challenges affecting EMS deployment, particularly those associated with environmental robustness, data processing capacity, operational costs, and stakeholder acceptance. Finally, with reference to the regulatory requirements established by Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs) and the developmental needs of China’s distant-water fisheries, the paper proposes targeted recommendations from the perspectives of technological innovation and institutional framework optimization. These recommendations aim to facilitate the transition of EMS from a data-recording tool to an intelligent decision-support platform, thereby providing a scientific reference for the sustainable management and governance of China’s tuna longline fisheries.