Global Fishing Watch API

API Versioning

How Global Fishing Watch versions its API, how long each major version is supported, and how version changes are communicated.

  • Only major versions are tracked, current version is v3
  • A new major version is created when there are breaking changes in the endpoints, Request (composed by url, params and verb) and/or the Response
  • We only support 2 major versions running at the same time

Communication around API versions

  • We send a deprecation notice 3 months in advanced:
  • Via email to all registered users
  • Via API, by returning a warning message with an url in the log when detecting you are using an old API
  • Old API version will live 3 months while new API version is release
VersionVersion StatusDeprecation DateRelease Notes
v3🟢 CURRENTRelease Notes v3
v2🔴 DEPRECATEDApril 30 2024Release Notes v2
v1🔴 DEPRECATEDMay 31 2023
  • Version status:
    • 🔴 DEPRECATED: The endpoint is not operational or is going to be deleted soon. No improvements are added.
    • 🟠 MAINTENANCE: The endpoint is operational and available but marked as in maintenance mode. That means that the engineering team are going to work on fixing issues but not implementing new/update features. All improvements/fixes in this version must has retrocompatibility. Users should plan to start using the CURRENT version.
    • 🟢 CURRENT: The endpoint is operation and available to the public users. This version is alive and the engineering team will be able to implementing new features. In case there is a breaking change, a new version should be publish.
  • Version deprecation date: when it was or will be deprecated
  • Release Notes: What changes are included in the version

For API Dataset Versioning, check here

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