Research and analysis

Where is your squid coming from? Most likely unregulated waters, according to a new international study

New research fuses multiple data sources to advance understanding of the expanding footprint of global squid fleets Scientists and policymakers have voiced growing concerns about the decline of global squid stocks, but little has been done to date to target squid fishing activities that are expanding into unregulated spaces, according to a new international study.

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New Fusion of Global Datasets Advances Understanding of Vessel Identity and Activity

Novel research provides new tool to improve global fisheries oversight Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing accounts for up to $23.5 billion every year and is enabled by vessels frequently changing their name, flag State or owner. New research , led by Global Fishing Watch and published in Science Advances , uses big data processing

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New research reveals shifting identities of global fishing fleet to help bolster fisheries management

Scientific study fuses multiple data sources to advance global understanding of vessel identity and behavior A new study published today in Science Advances combines a decade’s worth of satellite vessel tracking data with identification information from more than 40 public registries to determine where and when vessels responsible for most of the world’s industrial fishing

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palau underwater

2022: A Year of Success—and Greater Promise

A wave of ocean action shows opportunities for greater transparency toward marine governance 2022 dawned with even more uncertainty than most years. With COVID-19 lingering, it was unclear if the ocean conservation and fisheries management communities could hold the international meetings necessary to kick start work that had stalled during the first two years of

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AIS disabling hotspots map

Hotspots of Unseen Fishing Vessels Illuminate Areas of Concern for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

New study provides first global dataset examining intentional disabling of automatic identification system devices across commercial fisheries The ocean is vast and ship crews rely on several tools to navigate it safely. One of these tools is the automatic identification system, commonly referred to as AIS, which uses GPS transponders to regularly broadcast critical information,

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Peruvian boobies

Seabirds: An Unexpected Ally in Fisheries Monitoring

An innovative research project allows scientists to see through the eyes of seabirds to understand interactions with the Peruvian anchovy fishing fleet     On any given day, you can find a wreck of seabirds soaring above the waters of Peru’s largest fishery—the anchovy—swooping down toward various fishing vessels hauling in their catch. These sentinels

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SAR layer

Emerging technology gives first ever global view of hidden vessels

Satellite radar and machine learning publicly reveal previously unseen vessel activity around the world Washington, D.C. – Global Fishing Watch has developed and publicly released the first ever global map of previously undetected dark fleets, or vessels that do not broadcast their location or appear in public monitoring systems. Powered by satellite radar imagery and

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coast guard in boat

International Organizations Launch Collaborative Initiative in Fight Against Illegal Fishing

The Joint Analytical Cell aims to bolster fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance   Costing the global economy billions of dollars in lost revenue each year, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is impacting the health and resilience of our ocean, which play an integral role in stabilizing global livelihoods and ensuring food security. Stopping it will

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whale shark swimming in the ocean with fish next to it

Satellite Technology Can Reveal Collision Risks for Whale Sharks

Global Fishing Watch data helps researchers link shipping traffic to whale shark fatalities The whale shark is the world’s largest fish, with adults weighing up to 5,000 pounds and reaching up to 20 meters in length. Earning the reputation of “gentle giant,” these massive creatures roam the tropical waters of the ocean, traveling long distances

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semounts

Satellite Data Casts Light on Seamounts at Risk

Emerging tools and datasets help quantify fishing pressure and can inform management at remote, unmonitored seamounts Seamounts—large underwater mountains— hold vital biological diversity, but they also contend with heavy exploitation. Numbering in the tens of thousands across vast stretches of the high seas, they have been favored targets for longline and deepwater trawl vessels. And

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New Techniques Reveal Fishing Vessel Identities in the Dark of Night

New Global Fishing Watch technology merges nighttime images with GPS datasets to observe vessels not broadcasting their positions When the sun sets, human activity on the ocean goes on. And every night, satellites snap a picture of all the activity taking place down below, including vessels at sea. Vessels often are equipped with bright lights

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Recent Study Shows How Satellite Technology Can Help Track Illegal Fishing Throughout the Pacific Region

Enhanced transshipment monitoring is key in reducing illegal catch Tuna fisheries are vital to livelihoods, economies and cultures across the Pacific Islands region. Producing over half of the global catch—a portion estimated at $26 billion per year—the Pacific is home to the world’s most productive tuna fisheries. Ensuring the sustainability of these tuna fisheries is

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