Illegal Fishing Possibly Identified by Ships That "Go Dark" New Report Finds

Illegal Fishing Possibly Identified by Ships That "Go Dark" New Report Finds

Environmentalists are chasing industrial fishers that may be threatening fisheries in developing waters and marine protected areas.

We tracked illegal fishing in marine protected areas – satellites and AI show most bans are respected, and could help enforce future ones

A school of bigeye trevally swims near Bikar Atoll. Enric Sala/National Geographic Pristine SeasMarine protected areas cover more than 8% of the world’s oceans today, but they can get a bad rap as being protected on paper only. While the name invokes safe havens for fish, whales and other sea life, these areas can be hard to monitor. High-profile violations, such as recent fishing fleet incursions near the Galapagos Islands and ships that “go da…

'The ocean is no longer too big to watch': How AI and satellite data are helping rid Earth's seas of illegal fishing

Protected regions of the ocean are doing their job and keeping illegal fishing at bay, according to new research combining satellite imagery with artificial intelligence.

Satellite Eyes Reveal Which Ocean Sanctuaries Are Really Working (And Which Are Just 'Paper Parks')

AI and radar satellites expose where illegal fishing ends — and where it persists.

Satellite imagery detects illegal fishing activity, shows strict protections work

Illegal fishing is a global problem that threatens the health of ocean ecosystems and the economic viability of the fishing industry. Marine protected areas (MPAs)—zones set aside to safeguard marine life—are a key tool for conservation, but monitoring them has been a long-standing challenge.