Global Fishing Watch

Secretary Kerry Heads to the Stage to Deliver Remarks at the Global Fishing Watch Preview Reception at the Long View Gallery in Washington (29661895376)

Global Fishing Watch is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency of human activity at sea. By harnessing the power of technology, Global Fishing Watch provides near real-time tracking of fishing vessels around the globe to combat illegal fishing, promote sustainable fisheries, and protect marine ecosystems. Founded in 2015 through a collaboration between Oceana, SkyTruth, and Google, Global Fishing Watch utilizes satellite AIS (Automatic Identification System) data, machine learning, and cloud computing technologies to monitor and visualize the fishing activities of commercial fishing fleets worldwide.

Overview

Global Fishing Watch's mission is to offer a freely accessible and comprehensive view of global fishing activities. The platform analyzes millions of data points from the AIS signals of ships, which are legally required for vessels over a certain size. By applying advanced algorithms and machine learning, Global Fishing Watch can distinguish between different types of maritime activities, including fishing, transshipment, and drifting. This information is crucial for understanding fishing effort, identifying potentially illegal activities, and enforcing marine protected areas.

Impact

The work of Global Fishing Watch has had a significant impact on marine conservation and fisheries management. By making fishing activity data public, the organization has empowered governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), researchers, and the public to take action against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Several countries have partnered with Global Fishing Watch to enhance their monitoring, control, and surveillance capabilities. The platform's data has also supported the establishment and management of marine protected areas, contributing to global efforts to conserve marine biodiversity.

Challenges and Criticisms

Despite its achievements, Global Fishing Watch faces challenges and criticisms. One of the main challenges is the limitation of AIS data, which can be turned off or manipulated by vessels seeking to hide their activities. Additionally, not all fishing vessels are required to carry AIS transponders, leading to gaps in coverage. Critics also raise concerns about privacy and the potential for misuse of data, arguing that the platform could unfairly target certain vessels or regions.

Future Directions

Global Fishing Watch continues to evolve, with ongoing efforts to improve the accuracy and coverage of its monitoring systems. The organization is exploring the use of additional data sources, such as synthetic aperture radar (SAR) and optical satellite imagery, to detect vessels not using AIS. Collaborations with governments and international bodies are also expanding, aiming to enhance global fisheries management and ocean conservation efforts.

See Also

• Sustainable fishing
• Marine conservation
• Fisheries management
• Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing
• Marine protected area

Global Fishing Watch Resources
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