A recent study published in the journal Nature has provided groundbreaking insights into human industrial activities across the ocean. By combining satellite images, vessel GPS data, and artificial intelligence, researchers have been able to reveal a comprehensive picture of industrial uses of the ocean over a five-year period.
The study, conducted by Global Fishing Watch in collaboration with Duke University, the University of California, Santa Barbara, and SkyTruth, demonstrates the vast amount of activity that occurs outside of public monitoring systems. The research fills gaps in existing technology to provide a more complete understanding of human activities at sea.
One significant finding is that approximately 75% of fishing vessels detected in the study were missing from public AIS monitoring systems. This discovery sheds light on the scale, scope, and location of fishing activity, demonstrating that Asia has significantly more fishing vessels than Europe, contrary to previous AIS data. Additionally, the study identifies missing vessels and offshore structures, such as oil platforms and wind turbines, which were not adequately tracked by AIS systems.
The data obtained from this study has important implications for various real-world efforts. It can assist fishery managers in developing countries in monitoring local stocks in data-poor regions and aid enforcement agencies in identifying illegal fishing activities. Furthermore, the information can help quantify greenhouse gas emissions from vessel traffic and offshore energy development, contributing to climate change mitigation programs. Additionally, it can shed light on the environmental impact of offshore energy structures and help pinpoint sources of marine pollution.
The freely available data on the Global Fishing Watch data portal will be continually updated, expanded, and maintained. This valuable resource will provide transparency and support effective ocean governance by preventing environmental degradation, overexploitation of resources, and lawless behavior at sea.
Overall, this study represents a significant step forward in our understanding of human activities in the ocean, and it will undoubtedly contribute to the sustainable management of marine resources and the preservation of our oceans for future generations.
The source of the article is from the blog yanoticias.es