Brazil commits to sharing vessel data on public platform, strengthening compliance in Latin American waters.
Washington, D.C. – The Brazilian government has declared its commitment to share vessel tracking data on Global Fishing Watch’s platform, increasing the governance of vessels operating within its all jurisdictional waters and enhancing fisheries transparency throughout the region.
The agreement was signed on April 23 between Global Fishing Watch and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, represented by the Secretary of Aquaculture and Fisheries. This declaration of transparency is a critical step in bolstering fisheries management and demonstrates Brazil’s desire to strengthen its efforts to safeguard the sustainability of its marine resources.
Approximately 2,000 vessels will soon be visible on the Global Fishing Watch platform through the integration of Brazil’s vessel monitoring system (VMS) data across its entire domestic fleet. Harnessing satellite technology and big data processing, powered by Google, the platform helps fisheries and maritime professionals better understand vessel behavior and provides them with a more comprehensive view of what is taking place at sea.
“Brazil’s decision to adopt fisheries transparency demonstrates a shared ambition to enhance their current vessel monitoring system and strengthen compliance in their waters,” said Tony Long, chief executive officer at Global Fishing Watch. “The Secretary of Aquaculture and Fisheries will now have the information needed to ensure sound fisheries management and promote the sustainability of Brazil’s fish stocks for generations to come.”
“We are very optimistic about this partnership and excited to be moving in a direction that is aligned with the global trend in improving fisheries management,” said Jorge Seif, Secretary of Aquaculture and Fisheries in Brazil. “Fisheries are a multibillion dollar activity and must be well monitored and managed, based on principles of sustainability. We continue to invest efforts in developing interagency and institutional cooperation to leverage our capacity in delivering good results for fisheries resources, which allow fishers to thrive.”
Brazil has had a vessel monitoring system program since 2006 with the goal of establishing improved monitoring, control and management over its domestic fishing fleet. Over the years, it has allowed for the verification of fishing authorizations, monitoring and examination of fishing activities, as well as the assessment of certain fisheries management measures.
The partnership between Global Fishing Watch and Brazil will also include capacity-building actions for Brazilian public managers who work in fisheries management and establish vessel tracking as a priority tool for monitoring, control, and inspection and developing analyses and research.
“We are seeing real momentum in the push for fisheries transparency across the global ocean,” Tony Long said. “Brazil is the most recent country in Latin American to make this commitment, and we are hopeful that others will soon take that step.”
Brazil’s announcement follows regional leadership taken by Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and Peru to strengthen fisheries control and promote accountability throughout the commercial fishing industry. This new level of transparency will amplify the value of Global Fishing Watch’s platform and support conservation efforts in the region.
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For further information:
Kimberly Vosburgh, communications and outreach
Global Fishing Watch
[email protected]
Global Fishing Watch is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing ocean governance through increased transparency of human activity at sea. By creating and publicly sharing map visualizations, data and analysis tools, we aim to enable scientific research and transform the way our ocean is managed. We believe human activity at sea should be public knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean for the common good of all. Globalfishingwatch.org.
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