Global Atlas of AIS-based fishing activity Challenges and opportunities 1 Global Atlas of AIS-based fishing activity Challenges and opportunities M. Taconet, D. Kroodsma and J. A. Fernandes FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS Rome, 2019 Required citation: Taconet, M., Kroodsma, D., & Fernandes, J.A. 2019. Global Atlas of AIS-based fishing activity - Challenges and opportunities. Rome, FAO. (also available at www.fao.org/3/ca7012en/ca7012en.pdf). The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. 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Queries regarding rights and licensing should be submitted to: [email protected]. Preparation of this document With advances in information technology, it is becoming possible to create a global database of fishing effort by gear type with an unprecedented spatial and temporal resolution. Such a database has the potential to assist with fisheries management and research around the globe. When initiating this publication, FAO intended to present this potential by reviewing AIS-based data in the context of global and regional knowledge on fisheries, and to communicate the main findings as well as the strengths and limitations of these data and current processing methodology. The aim of this document, hereafter referred to as the Atlas, is to enable stakeholders to understand the opportunity and challenges of mapping and analysing fishing activity using AIS data. For each FAO Area, based on AIS data, this Atlas presents the number and percentage of vessels broadcasting AIS, the spatial patterns of presence and intensity of fishing activity, and an analysis by gear type. For these data, the Atlas includes detailed methods, case studies, and comparisons with other data. These comparisons, explanatory text, and caveats are presented with the goal of helping FAO Members understand how this new dataset can be applied. To ensure the accuracy of the conclusions, 80 fishery experts from around the world either authored, reviewed or assessed the maps, charts, and supporting text produced by the authors and editorial team. This Atlas has been prepared through a collaboration between Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Global Fishing Watch (GFW), and Fundación AZTI – AZTI Fundazioa. Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) has also contributed with a local study chapter. FAO is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO’s goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. FAO has contributed to the Atlas with 1) the initial idea; 2) project partner coordination; 3) revision of fleet data statistics for FAO area chapters led by GFW; 4) coordination of external review; 5) leading introductory chapters and the conclusions chapter; and 6) overall study material editing and reviewing. GFW is an independent and non-profit organization originally set up through a collaboration between three partners: Oceana, an international ocean conservation organization; SkyTruth, experts in using satellite technology to protect the environment; and Google, which provides iii the tools for processing big data. GFW’s aim is to advance ocean sustainability and stewardship through increasing transparency. GFW has contributed to the Atlas with: 1) the initial idea, together with FAO; 2) providing the processed data, graphs and maps; 3) leading the writing of chapters on AIS data processing, methods and use; 4) leading revision of fleet statistics for FAO areas chapters together with FAO; 5) providing text and revision of FAO regions chapters; and 6) revision of the two detailed comparisons with VMS/logbook data (Bay of Biscay and Seychelles comparisons). AZTI is an independent and non-profit research and technology organization that aims to develop sustainable products and services for the long-term healthy development of society. Its marine research division works closely with fisheries and related industries towards increasing environmental and economic sustainability. AZTI has contributed to the Atlas with: 1) as an independent reviewer and editor of all Atlas materials; 2) data analysis and writing of the AIS and VMS/logbook data comparison chapter for the Bay of Biscay; and 3) leading the writing and review of FAO area chapters and the conclusions chapter. SFA is the competent fisheries and marine resources management authority for the Seychelles. The SFA monitors its national coastal and high seas fishing fleets and the foreign fleets licensed to operate within Seychelles waters. The SFA has contributed to the Atlas with: 1) the detailed case study comparing AIS data to VMS and logbook data in the Seychelles tuna fisheries and 2) the revision of the Bay of Biscay case study. iv Contents Preparation of this document iii Acknowledgements vi Acronyms vii Executive summary ix Introduction of Global Atlas of AIS-based fishing activity 1 AIS-based methods for estimating fishing vessel activity and operations 13 Use of AIS by the world’s fishing fleet 33 Bay of Biscay VMS/logbook comparison (FAO Subarea 27.8) 43 Seychelles VMS/logbook comparison for tuna fisheries (FAO Area 51) 79 FAO Area 18 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Arctic Sea 109 FAO Area 21 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Northwest Atlantic 121 FAO Area 27 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Northeast Atlantic 137 FAO Area 31 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Western Central Atlantic 155 FAO Area 34 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Eastern Central Atlantic 169 FAO Area 37 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Mediterranean and Black Sea 185 FAO Area 41 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Southwest Atlantic 199 FAO Area 47 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Southeast Atlantic 215 FAO Areas 48, 58 and 88– AIS-based fishing activity in the Southern Ocean 229 FAO Area 51 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Western Indian Ocean 245 FAO Area 57 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Eastern Indian Ocean 263 FAO Area 61 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Northwest Pacific 277 FAO Area 67 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Northeast Pacific 293 FAO Area 71 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Western Central Pacific 307 FAO Area 77 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Eastern Central Pacific 321 FAO Area 81 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Southwest Pacific 335 FAO Area 87 – AIS-based fishing activity in the Southeast Pacific 347 Conclusions and overview of Global Atlas of AIS-based fishing activity 363 v Acknowledgements The editors would like to thank Manuel Barange, Director of FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy and Resources Division, for the original ideation given to this work, and his general support. Jennifer Gee and Kiran Viparthi contributed respectively to FAO fleet statistics and charts/maps design, and provided valuable inputs to initial ideation, document scoping and coordination within the editorial team.