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 high density areas where satellite reception can be poor around the globe, specifically the Mediterranean Sea, South China Sea, and the North Sea.
The addition of the information provided by the terrestrial receivers has helped to illuminate a clearer picture of activities at sea in these opaque regions (see Table 1). In a random 4 day sample of data, 71% of Marine Traffic messages did not exist in other provider feeds, and it provides improved coverage along stretches of coastlines.
Table 1. Relative percentage increase in number of unique MMSI over a 10 day period in 2024 excluding stationary vessels.
| Regions | Excluding MT | Including MT | Relative % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediterranean Sea | 35870 | 39489 | 10.1 |
| North Sea | 40438 | 44312 | 9.6 |
| South China Sea | 363059 | 369469 | 1.8 |
Mediterranean Sea: Coverage has improved particularly in the coastal regions of Italy. Images of added MMSIs per grid cell (Grid size: 0.1 degrees (lat/lon).
North Sea: Coverage has improved in the English channel. Images of added MMSIs per grid cell (Grid size: 0.1 degrees (lat/lon).
South China Sea: Coverage has improved in some spots, for example around Chinese Taipei and Vietnam. Images of added MMSIs per grid cell (Grid size: 0.1 degrees (lat/lon).
