Satellite Tracking of foreign vessels in local communities' waters

This solution was shared by PRE-LAUNCH RESEARCH TEAM , 14 May 2021

Print date: 14 April 2024 10:29

Description of the innovative solution

Sensors Traceability Big data Monitoring/Surveillance Animal husbandry Animal-sourced food Information/communication Agricultural development

As fish resources are dwindling, local communities from developing and emerging economies are experiencing a decline in fish protein due in part to international fishing vessels outcompeting them. This innovation proposes to track and identify infringing vessels through satellite imagery, complementing the Global Fishing Watch. Fish can be a sustainable and healthy protein, but without identifying the proper culprits for overfishing, many fisheries will be condemned to becoming extinct. This technology can help for people to quickly spot vessels that are not supposed to be fishing in certain areas. This technology, along with other practices, can help to curb the amount of illegal fishing that is done.

Primary users

Fishers
Wholesalers
Distributors
Coastal Communities
Food safety & quality assurance agencies
Local populations

Dietary impact

If vessels are not depleting the fish populations, the world can continue to eat a diverse diet with many different types of seafood. This tracking technology can ensure that vessels are not fishing illegally.

Planetary impact

Using tracking technology, even the smallest vessels can be spotted anywhere in the water. This can help to track down vessels that are fishing illegally. Vessels that fish illegally ignore laws about how much you can fish in a certain area. The vessels could fish so much that the fish population will deplete significantly. If the fish population decreases enough, there will be a dearth of food in the future years.

Equity impact

Some places do not have a lot of fish in their waters. If vessels that aren't supposed to be fishing there come and fish, there will be less food for the community that surrounds those waters. This tracking technology can help to identify vessels that will "steal" the fish and then they can be controlled.

Main concerns

Sometimes the speed at which the merging of data is slow. However, advances are being made to fix that. While this technology helps to detect vessels more quickly, there is still a lot more that needs to be done in order to completely stop illegal fishing. For example, the universal and mandatory application of electronically tracking fish at points of catch and sale will help to further curb illegal fishing.

Supply chain segment

Agricultural inputs and primary production practices

Maturity level

Gaining traction

Criteria

Food safety Food availability Reducing biodiversity loss

SDG target

SDG 2: Zero Hunger SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production SDG 14: Life Below Water

Context

Marine/Coastal

Examples and additional resources

Real-world examples

See this solution in action in different contexts and settings around the world

Catapult Satellite Applications

Project information

UK-based technology company trialling their satellite technology to track illegal fishing in the Pitcairn Islands.

United Kingdom

sa.catapult.org.uk/case...hing/

sa.catapult.org.uk/wp-c...1.pdf

Shared by IFSS Research Team

Additional resources

Learn more about this solution through studies, articles, business cases, and other information

Global Fishing Watch information

Business case

Information about how fishing vessels are tracked and how the tracking data is made accessible.

globalfishingwatch.org/ve...ta/

Shared by PRE-LAUNCH RESEARCH TEAM

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