< Platform updates

2024 August – Global Fishing Watch platform – Updates to underlying activity data, high-resolution maps, vessel positions view and more

A map of the Atlantic Ocean shows three levels of detail—low, medium, and high—from left to right, highlighting coastal and oceanic regions with varying intensities of green, yellow, and orange colors.
Global Fishing Watch map showing low, medium and high resolutions
Updates have been released for the Global Fishing Watch platform, including the map, portals and APIs. Anyone can now:

  • Access latest improvements in Global Fishing Watch automatic identification system (AIS) data to improve both activity and identity accuracy shown in all Global Fishing Watch products. 
    • We’ve updated our underlying automatic identification system (AIS) process for stability, greater flexibility and future-proofing.
    • We’ve improved our vessel characterization and identity processes, leading to greater accuracy of vessel-level results seen in our tools and data.
    • We’ve cleaned up our data on ports and anchorages, data coverage and vessel track segments to improve voyages and port calculations as well as improving how events are recorded and displayed.
    • As a result of these changes, reports and analyses will differ from those previously completed using previous Global Fishing Watch data.
    • Previous data can still be accessed via Application Programming Interface (API) for six months – More API information.
    • Learn more in our data FAQs.

  • Alter Global Fishing Watch map activity and detections heatmaps to show high resolution human activity for more accurate and useful maps. 
    • We now include a high resolution option for maps to support more local regional or local applications, and allow managers and researchers to more clearly discern patterns in activity.
    • We have also included dynamic color ranges for each activity layer, to ensure the map is consistently showing the best color range for the data shown on your screen at any one time.

  • See individual fishing or activity positions for vessels to review activity in more detail.
    • To view activity information in more detail, switch to individual vessel positions view when reviewing short time ranges, small vessel groups or more local areas on the map (at high zoom level).

  • Benefit from general platform improvements.
    • Thanks to this work incorporating new technical infrastructure to the Global Fishing Watch platform, we have greatly improved map performance to load faster and be more responsive.
    • In areas with low internet connectivity, stakeholders can make use of ‘low resolution heatmap’ mode to render fewer grid cells on the map and ensure good performance.
Find our user guide, supporting information and tutorials on the Global Fishing Watch website. Share feedback through the built-in feedback form in the left sidebar on the marine manager portal or add feature requests to our public Canny board. Email [email protected] for support. Release – Thursday 1 August
Go to Global Fishing Watch Map
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