Global Fishing Watch, a nonprofit organization backed by Google, has conducted an unprecedented study revealing that over 75% of industrial fishing ships conceal their locations. These findings shed light on the hidden world of dark fleets, a term used to describe maritime vessels that don’t publicly report their whereabouts. The study, published in Nature, utilized artificial intelligence analysis of global satellite imagery to uncover the extent of humanity’s impact on our oceans.
Maritime watchdogs have traditionally relied on the Automatic Identification System (AIS) to track vessel locations. However, this tool has its limitations, as ships can easily turn off their transponders to stay off the grid. As a result, a significant portion of industrial fishing vessels remains hidden from public view.
To address this data void, the researchers collected 2 million gigabytes of global imaging data taken by the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1 satellite constellation between 2017 and 2021. Unlike AIS, the ESA satellite’s radar technology can detect surface activity or movement regardless of cloud coverage or time of day. By combining this information with GPS data, the team was able to identify previously undocumented fishing vessels.
The study’s findings challenge previous assumptions and reveal the alarming prevalence of dark fleets globally. Contrary to publicly available data suggesting similar amounts of fishing activity in Asia and Europe, the mapping revealed that Asia dominates the industry, with seven out of every ten fishing vessels found on the water located in Asia, compared to only one in Europe.
In addition to highlighting the concerning reality of dark fleets, the study also sheds light on positive developments. The findings indicate that the number of green offshore energy projects more than doubled over the analyzed five-year period. Wind turbines now outnumber the world’s oil platforms, with China leading the way by increasing its number of wind farms by a staggering 900%.
This research marks a new era in ocean management and transparency, as satellite monitoring becomes accessible to all nations, rather than limited to those who can afford it. The comprehensive understanding of global industrial fishing provided by this study offers valuable insights for sustainable ocean management.
Overall, the study’s findings provide a balanced view of the world’s maritime industry, revealing both concerning trends and encouraging advancements in offshore energy. The utilization of AI analysis and satellite technology demonstrates the power of these innovative tools in understanding and managing our impact on the oceans. As we unveil the hidden realms of our seas, we gain the knowledge necessary to address the intensity and breadth of human activity at sea effectively.
