Data and technology

cogs over water

Free and open data to inspire next wave of ocean solutions

Data and technology, News & Views / By

Global Fishing Watch establishes new portal to make application programming interfaces available to public Inequitable access to data and technology in support of ocean stewardship often leads to lost opportunities in decision-making and innovation—especially in under-resourced countries.  The international community continues to fall short in its efforts to conserve and sustainably use the ocean and […]

Free and open data to inspire next wave of ocean solutions Read More »

whale shark swimming in the ocean with fish next to it

Satellite Technology Can Reveal Collision Risks for Whale Sharks

Data and technology, Impacts, Research and analysis / By

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

Satellite Technology Can Reveal Collision Risks for Whale Sharks Read More »

New Techniques Reveal Fishing Vessel Identities in the Dark of Night

Data and technology, Fisheries, News & Views, Research and analysis / By

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

New Techniques Reveal Fishing Vessel Identities in the Dark of Night Read More »

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

Data and technology, Fisheries, Impacts, News & Views, Research and analysis / By

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 »

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

Data and technology / By

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 »

New Horizons for Peru’s Squid Fishery

Data and technology, Fisheries, Impacts, News & Views, Research and analysis / By

Peruvian vessel monitoring system is shining a light on the large artisanal squid fleet in the Southeast Pacific Ocean, Peru’s second most important fishery. Peru recognizes the value of transparency to improve the monitoring and management of its rich fisheries. The country has publicly shared its vessel monitoring system (VMS) data since March 2018, but

New Horizons for Peru’s Squid Fishery Read More »

Systematic Data Analysis Reveals False Vessel Tracks

Data and technology, News & Views, Research and analysis / By

Analysis of tracking data from automatic identification system broadcasts reveals vessel locations have been simulated for a number of ships, including military vessels. This false information could compromise vessel safety, decrease confidence in a crucial collision avoidance system and potentially spark international conflict. Over the years, data analysts working with Global Fishing Watch and SkyTruth

Systematic Data Analysis Reveals False Vessel Tracks Read More »

New Map Revolutionizes Ocean Monitoring and Analysis

Data and technology, News & Views, Research and analysis, Transparency / By

To better visualize activity at sea, Global Fishing Watch engineers new technology to power updated map Despite its overwhelming benefits and the value it brings to all life on Earth, the ocean remains one of the least observed areas of our planet. We have been able to see very little of what’s happening across the

New Map Revolutionizes Ocean Monitoring and Analysis Read More »

Vessel track

Assessing Risk in Seafood Supply Chains Takes Technology and Teamwork

Data and technology, Fisheries, News & Views, Research and analysis, Transparency / By

New collaboration aims to shed light on the seafood industry through the development of new risk assessment tools. The opaqueness of modern global supply chains leaves a lot of room for bad behavior in the production of a myriad of products, including seafood. While greater transparency, along with sustainability and human rights best practices, are

Assessing Risk in Seafood Supply Chains Takes Technology and Teamwork Read More »

Technology Portal Brings Revolutionary Approach to Marine Management

Data and technology, Impacts, Research and analysis, Transparency / By

Interactive, dynamic ocean data can help bolster effective conservation efforts Covering more than 70 percent of our planet’s surface, the ocean is vital to all life on earth. It regulates global systems that make the world inhabitable for humankind—the air we breathe, the food we eat, even the patterns in weather we experience. Yet the

Technology Portal Brings Revolutionary Approach to Marine Management Read More »

Bridging the Gap between Gulf-based Fisheries and the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry

Data and technology, Research and analysis / By

Analysis of artificial reefing areas will bring marine life benefits to the Gulf of Mexico. Opinions surrounding the oil industry are dynamic, complex and often controversial. However, there is one viewpoint that almost all fishers can agree on: some of the best fishing the Gulf of Mexico has to offer can be found around offshore

Bridging the Gap between Gulf-based Fisheries and the Offshore Oil and Gas Industry Read More »

Half the Ocean: Updating The Global Footprint of Fisheries

Data and technology, Fisheries, News & Views / By

Global Fishing Watch’s updated fishing data offers new insight into the presence and behavior of the global fishing fleet In 2018, we published the first-ever global assessment of commercial fishing activity in Science. We tracked over 60,000 fishing vessels between 2012 and 2016, and estimated that fishing occurred on more than half of the ocean. 

Half the Ocean: Updating The Global Footprint of Fisheries Read More »

New Fishing Data Paves the Way for Improved Analysis

Data and technology, News & Views / By

Improvements to our fishing effort data and vessel classification can help promote transparency of human activity on the world’s oceans In 2018, Global Fishing Watch released its first public fishing effort data that included almost 142 million hours of fishing from over 73,000 unique maritime mobile service identity (MMSI) numbers. The dataset, spanning 2012-2016, represented

New Fishing Data Paves the Way for Improved Analysis Read More »

COVID-19 Brings Unmatched Downturn in Global Fishing Activity

Data and technology, Fisheries, News & Views / By

One year into the pandemic that triggered turmoil around the world, an analysis of Global Fishing Watch data sheds light on shifts in global fishing activity  As the world marks the March 11th anniversary of the World Health Organization’s declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fishing sector—like many industries—continues to feel the effects. With our

COVID-19 Brings Unmatched Downturn in Global Fishing Activity Read More »

Scroll to Top