Panama
Our work
Since 2019, Global Fishing Watch has been supporting Panama in its endeavors to improve the oversight and accountability of its sizable international fishing fleet as well as sanction and prevent opportunities for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
At the heart of our engagement is a longstanding relationship with the Panamanian Authority of Aquatic Resources (ARAP) — the agency responsible for fisheries compliance. ARAP has been crucial in advancing our shared objectives to strengthen transparency and promote sustainable ocean governance.
What began as a commitment to publish vessel tracking data on our map has grown into an ambitious collaboration. Global Fishing Watch now provides Panama with critical data and intelligence to bolster monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) of maritime activities, including transshipment activity and fleet compliance. We offer specialized training to national agencies, acknowledging the value of investing in the country’s capacity and empowering authorities and policymakers to utilize technology for more informed decision making.
To strengthen Panama’s biodiversity conservation efforts, specifically across marine protected areas in the Pacific, we are supporting their utilization of Marine Manager, an innovative technology portal that aids in the designation, monitoring and management of protected waters.
Highlights
Our collaboration extends across various stakeholders, including ARAP, the Panama Maritime Authority, the Ministry of Environment and local nongovernmental organizations.
Vessel Tracking: Making vessels publicly visible
Since 2019, we have worked closely with ARAP to make Panama’s international fishing fleet visible on our map. In 2026, Panama took another major step toward transparency by publicly sharing vessel monitoring system (VMS) data for its domestic fishing fleet, making the activity of approximately 200 longline and trawl vessels visible in national waters. Together, these efforts significantly strengthen monitoring, accountability and public oversight of fishing activity.
Operational Support: Strengthening surveillance and compliance
Our work with Panama has produced significant results, including over 30 analytical reports since 2019 that have supported the country’s administrative sanction processes. These reports have led to fines and detentions for vessels engaged in IUU fishing, such as the high-profile detention of the MV Nika in collaboration with Indonesia and Interpol.
Marine Protection: Supporting effective conservation
Marine conservation is central to our mission in Panama. Since 2023, we have trained over 30 stakeholders from various sectors to take advantage of our marine manager portal, including the Ministry of Environment, ARAP, the Panama Maritime Authority, the coast guard, local NGOs and academia. We also support the implementation of management plans for Coiba Island National Park and Coiba Ridge, which are both part of the Eastern Tropical Pacific Marine Corridor, and contribute to Panama's new MCS center for marine protected areas.
Capacity Development: Adopting technology
To ensure long-term success in compliance and fisheries management, we have implemented a customized training program to develop standard operating procedures for transshipment—these serve as clear, essential blueprints for enforcing regulations and promoting responsible fishing practices.
Policy Support: Championing fisheries transparency
Panama has emerged as a regional leader in fisheries transparency. In addition to publishing vessel tracking data, the country makes public information on artisanal, medium and large-scale fishing licenses, international service fishing licenses, license holders and fisheries sanctioning processes. At the 2025 Our Ocean Conference, Panama further demonstrated its commitment by pledging to publish beneficial ownership information for its international service fleet. Through our ongoing collaboration, Global Fishing Watch is well positioned to support these efforts and provide technical expertise on transparency and fisheries governance.
About Panama
With over 8,500 vessels registered under its flag — one of the largest open registries in the world — Panama plays a significant role in the global fight against IUU fishing.
The diversity of Panama’s fleet — which spans domestic shrimp trawlers, purse seine vessels targeting small pelagics with certified fisheries and longliners targeting tuna and mahi-mahi, to an international fleet of tuna purse seiners, longliners and support vessels—necessitates robust MCS measures. Without such efforts, Panama risks not only its global reputation but also the livelihoods tied to its marine industries. This makes Panama acutely aware of the stakes involved in combating unsustainable fishing practices on a global scale.
Managing a vast national and international fleet has posed significant challenges for Panama, particularly in demonstrating compliance with international standards. After receiving two yellow cards from the European Union, Panama implemented significant reforms to strengthen governance, improve oversight and increase transparency. These efforts not only support sustainability but also yield economic benefits for Panamanian communities.
Today, Panama continues to expand public access to fisheries information, from license registries and sanction records to vessel tracking data and future beneficial ownership disclosures. Combined with its active participation in regional fisheries management organizations, such as the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation, the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission and the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, the country’s proven commitment to transparency makes it a vital partner in the global mission to enhance fisheries transparency. This unique position enables Panama to lead the way in setting new, higher standards for the international community.