Vincent Nguyen and Gunther Errhalt, Author at Global Fishing Watch

On the High Seas, Global Fishing Watch Helps Focus Law Enforcement Patrols

Data and technology, Fisheries, Impacts, News & Views, Research and analysis / By Vincent Nguyen and Gunther Errhalt

Annual international collaboration Operation North Pacific Guard targets illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing For three years, Global Fishing Watch has worked with the United States Coast Guard (USCG), Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and their partners in addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the North Pacific as part of Operation […]

On the High Seas, Global Fishing Watch Helps Focus Law Enforcement Patrols Read More »

Mapping a New World

Article / By Tony Long

Tony Long, Global Fishing Watch’s chief executive officer, finds cause for gravity but also hope as we look to the Decade of Ocean Science and a growing consensus that our future—and the course ahead for ocean conservation—should be powered by waves of data, shared and open to all We wish the news were better, but

Mapping a New World Read More »

Time to Lift the Veil on Human Rights Abuses in Global Fisheries

Fisheries, Forced Labor / By John Maefiti

The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency sees an important link between ethical treatment of workers and sustainable fishing and is taking action to address both The 2021 Human Rights Day focuses on reducing inequalities and advancing human rights. This work is vital in the fisheries sector, where we know that significant abuses occur, and

Time to Lift the Veil on Human Rights Abuses in Global Fisheries Read More »

Updated Marine Manager Portal Gives More Diverse and Dynamic Tools for Ocean Management

Data and technology / By Tim White and Matt Gummery

Researchers can now compare levels of human activity over time to better fathom human behavior and impacts of management on marine ecosystems Marine protected areas (MPAs) are an important tool for safeguarding fragile ecosystems, endemic species and fish stocks throughout our global ocean. A growing number of countries around the world, with Chile as a

Updated Marine Manager Portal Gives More Diverse and Dynamic Tools for Ocean Management Read More »

Transparency in Fisheries is Essential to Ocean Resilience

Article / By David Kroodsma and Courtney Farthing

Credit: © Nico Marin / Ocean Image Bank Despite the complexities of climate change, a simple message resonates: all systems are linked, and the ocean is a key solution A resilient ocean is key to addressing climate change. Our shared waters are primary atmospheric drivers through temperature regulation, carbon absorption, oxygen production and influence on

Transparency in Fisheries is Essential to Ocean Resilience Read More »

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a Powerful Forum for Boosting Transparency to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing

Article / By Alejandro Canio

APEC members share marine resources across a single ocean basin. Ensuring sustainable exploitation and trade is a shared concern. Bronwen Golder, fellow with the Stanford University Center for Ocean Solutions, was the moderator of the webinar series “Transparency as a Tool for a Sustainable Ocean Economy.” Credit: ©Bronwen Golder The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, is an

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation is a Powerful Forum for Boosting Transparency to Combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing Read More »

Why can’t I find a vessel I am searching for?

By Dave Poortvliet

Try searching by identification numbers like IMO or MMSI and filter by flag. Make sure you are logged in to your Global Fishing Watch account so the platform includes all data sources you can access. Only vessels from public registries will show in search. If you have been shared a private workspace, try searching from

Why can’t I find a vessel I am searching for? Read More »

How do I search for a specific vessel?

By Dave Poortvliet

Complete a basic search by clicking on the search icon (magnifying glass) in the Vessels section on the left sidebar of your screen and typing a vessel name in the search bar. You can also search by other vessel identifying information (MMSI number, IMO number and call sign). To access advanced search options, login into

How do I search for a specific vessel? Read More »

How do I search for fishing activity within a certain time range?

By Dave Poortvliet

The time bar at the bottom of the Global Fishing Watch map determines the time range you are viewing. To change the time range: Move the start and end bars within the timebar Click on the calendar icon in the bottom left corner, to select a time range or select from a set of pre-defined

How do I search for fishing activity within a certain time range? Read More »

What are the filters and how do I use them?

By Dave Poortvliet

You can filter different data and each data has unique attributes that can be used for filtering. Some of the filters that can be found are: You can filter the apparent fishing effort by clicking on the filter icon in the Activity section. Depending on the source, you have different options: Automatic identification system (AIS)

What are the filters and how do I use them? Read More »

How can I share or save my current workspace or view?

By Dave Poortvliet

First, you must be logged into your Global Fishing Watch account. You may share your current view by clicking on the share icon on top of the left sidebar on your screen. This will copy the hyperlink to your computer’s clipboard to share the view. Share your view by pasting and sending that hyperlink to

How can I share or save my current workspace or view? Read More »

How do I create private workspaces and add environmental datasets?

By Dave Poortvliet

Anyone can replicate marine manager portal workspaces to create private workspaces and upload environmental datasets. Find all your workspaces on your profile, where you can manage and delete them. To add environmental datasets, click the ‘+’ icon in the Environment section and ‘Upload new environment dataset’. Select the data type you are looking to upload.

How do I create private workspaces and add environmental datasets? Read More »

How do I upload my own polygon or points reference layer?

By Dave Poortvliet

Login to your Global Fishing Watch account to upload personal reference layers. Click the ‘+’ icon in the Reference Layers section to add reference layers in a workspace, and then ‘Upload new reference layer’. You can upload polygon or points reference layers. Currently .zip shapefiles and .json files are supported, alongside .csv files for points.

How do I upload my own polygon or points reference layer? Read More »

Which browser can I use to access the Global Fishing Watch map?

By Dave Poortvliet

We recommend Chrome or Firefox to use the Global Fishing Watch map. We do not yet recommend Safari or Internet Explorer to use the Global Fishing Watch map, although we expect to optimize the map for those browsers in the future.

Which browser can I use to access the Global Fishing Watch map? Read More »

Global Fishing Watch holds workshops with authorities in Peru’s three main fishing ports

Article / By Dave Poortvliet

Fisheries Analyst, Eloy Aroni Global Fishing Watch recently met with port authorities and offered training on its commercial fishing activity platform in three important Peruvian fishing ports (Paita, Chimbote and Callao). Fisheries Analyst, Eloy Aroni, describes in this blog post how these meetings were an opportunity to discuss data and technology solutions to the main issues affecting

Global Fishing Watch holds workshops with authorities in Peru’s three main fishing ports Read More »