In March 2025, we released version 3.0 of the downloadable static Global Fishing Watch apparent fishing effort dataset here. Data is available for 2012-2024 and based on positions of >190,000 unique automatic identification system (AIS) devices on fishing vessels, of which up to ~96,000 are active in a given year. What is different between the […]
In March 2025, we released version 3.0 of the downloadable static Global Fishing Watch apparent fishing effort dataset here. Data is available for 2012-2024 and based on positions of >190,000 unique automatic identification system (AIS) devices on fishing vessels, of which up to ~96,000 are active in a given year. What changes to this dataset
Global Fishing Watch has launched an improved version (v3.0) of our automatic identification system (AIS) data pipeline. The AIS data pipeline is the series of processes that we use to convert the raw satellite AIS ingested data to the data products, such as machine learning estimates of fishing activity, identity data that combines merged external
2024 Aug – New release in our AIS data pipeline (version 3) Read More »
From 3 January 2024, Global Fishing Watch AIS data has been enhanced by the new addition of Marine Traffic terrestrial receivers. Global Fishing Watch purchased Marine Traffic data in order to supplement the loss of Orbcomm supplied data which ended on 31 December 2022 (more detail here). The Marine Traffic data is located in three
Marine Traffic added as a new AIS source Read More »
GFW API will be useful for you, if you looking for: Near real time data: up-to-date information with only 3 days of delay. Better user experience for your users: you can ensure a smooth and integrated user experience with relevant and up-to-date data for your users. The data is delivered when available and not only
When should I use an API? Read More »
For now, we are only offering AIS data in our APIs, you can find the details of the datasets in Global Fishing Watch APIs documentation site. If you are interested in other datasets, please contact us at [email protected]
What VMS and AIS data can I get from Global Fishing Watch APIs? Read More »
GFW APIs are free to use for non-commercial purposes, including for academic research, for NGOs and generally for anything that is free and open and contributes to the public good. This also includes use by governments in free and open tools available to the public. For details see our terms of use. For commercial uses
Can I use Global Fishing Watch APIs for commercial purposes? Read More »
You can find all technical documentation about our API and endpoints in the Global Fishing Watch APIs documentation site
Where can I find detailed technical documentation about Global Fishing Watch APIs? Read More »
Most of our APIs are available to anyone to use for non-commercial use via a simple self-registration process. Some APIs may require prior approval or are otherwise limited to certain users. It is really simple to start using our APIs, go to Global Fishing Watch APIs and follow the 3 steps described there. If you
How do I get access to Global Fishing Watch APIs? Read More »
The API (Application Programming Interface) access token is the mechanism the computer uses to give or reject access to the Global Fishing Watch (GFW) data. For example, Developers from organisation “A” has an API Access Token composed by number and letters, it looks something like this: “lrN4w3r5t6y7u8imeqwcH9ATN2US8IxxWhwKj87C7jYfJh2p9YU_D8JhVwtK4UAPS9LWFfnrXLCVIwo_QqZdKiwxoFwfJn2YEiO10JI4MRkDDuae0I38r1olbWofz6nEYLW-tOBNG1suOPhqe3IzNFf4CmjnSIvJVoB4HrVRFgpuVrt0xNSB6XYz46hMLyuFErVtiX96gwMDaRIveNC4dE” There are also other Developers from organisation B
What is an API Access Token? Read More »
APIs stands for Application Programming Interface; in the same way that humans interact and communicate through gestures, language or words, platform and software products connect and interact between them using application programming interfaces. Platforms transfer data using these interfaces, in a format understandable by computers, which help leverage data from different sources using a live
