The Regional Coordination Groups for the North Atlantic, North Sea & Eastern Arctic (RCG NANSEA) and the Baltic Sea (RCG Baltic) concluded their annual joint Technical Meeting, marking a significant milestone in regional data collaboration. The process kicked off with a virtual session on June 2nd, 2026, followed by a four-day in-person meeting held in Nantes, France, from June 9th to 12th, 2026.
Operating in a productive hybrid format, the event brought together over 70 fisheries data experts, subgroup chairs, and institutional representatives from 13 EU Member States. The meeting also saw active participation and key updates from the European Commission and the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), alongside invited experts from the RCG ECON group to facilitate cross-cutting discussions.
Key takeaways:
- Regional Work Plans & Case Studies: Sessions dedicated to the Regional Work Plan (RWP) addressed the integration of lower-category stocks within recreational fisheries and highlighted the ongoing challenges of mandatory data collection across the regions. The group reviewed progress on joint test studies, including non-invasive eDNA monitoring, tissue sampling for stock identification, and Baltic juvenile salmon monitoring. Additionally, end-user driven requirements for mandatory stomach sampling were reviewed alongside proposals for a technical intercalibration workshop.
- Data Governance & RDBES Transition: Experts tackled complex data confidentiality issues arising from conflicting national regulations. Updates were provided on the transition toward the Regional Database & Estimation System (RDBES), which remains on track for full implementation by 2028. The group also evaluated the migration of data tables to online platforms to streamline manual workflows and prepare for upcoming official data calls.
- New Technologies & Electronic Monitoring: The meeting featured extensive discussions on the progressive integration of Electronic Monitoring (EMT) and camera systems. It was clarified that these technologies aim to digitalize processes and increase transparency rather than replace physical observers. The group decided to maintain a cooperative approach for pan-regional EMT and genetics work while exploring a dedicated theme session for the ICES Annual Science Conference.
These joint efforts successfully reinforce biological sampling strategies, streamline database migrations, and pave the way for the uptake of electronic monitoring tools across the North Atlantic, North Sea, and Baltic regions. The immediate next steps focus on data validation deadlines and the refinement of intersessional text proposals before the regional work plans move to the final decision-making stage this autumn.
Further details about the discussions held will be available in the RCG NANSEA & Baltic Technical Meeting Report, which will be released on the official RCG website soon.
