- Worldwide, ocean-based industries such as fishing, shipping and energy production generate at least US$1.5 trillion in economic activity each year and support 31 million jobs.
- This value has been increasing exponentially over the past 50 years and is expected to double by 2030.
- But the sheer size of the ocean has made tracking industrial activities at a broad scale impractical – until now.
Operating in the dark
- For example, many vessels carry a device called an automatic identification system, or AIS, that automatically broadcasts the vessel’s identity, position, course and speed.
- These devices communicate with other AIS devices nearby to improve situational awareness and reduce the chances of vessel collisions at sea.
- They also transmit to shore-based transponders and satellites, which can be used to monitor vessel traffic and fishing activity.
Shining a light on activity at sea
- Remarkably, we found that about 75% of the fishing vessels we detected were missing from public AIS monitoring systems, with much of that activity taking place around Africa and South Asia.
- These previously invisible vessels radically changed our knowledge about the scale, scope and location of fishing activity.
- We estimate that the number of wind turbines in the ocean likely surpassed the number of oil structures by the end of 2020.
Supporting real-world efforts
- Fishery managers in developing countries can use our data to monitor pressure on local stocks.
- Our data can help enforcement agencies identify illegal activities and target patrol efforts.
- – Sanction-busting trade: Our data can shed light on maritime activities that may breach international economic sanctions.
- For example, United Nations sanctions prohibit North Korea from exporting seafood products or selling its fishing rights to other countries.
The study described in this article was funded by Oceankind, Bloomberg Philanthropies and National Geographic Pristine Seas. The European Space Agency made radar and optical imagery freely available, and Google provided computing resources and technical support. Jennifer Raynor has worked at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries, and currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Global Fishing Watch.