Authorities attempting to crack down on illegal fishing
A joint partnership between the Pew Charitable Trust and UK Satellite Applications Catapult is attempting to crack down on illegal fishing in a big way. Their mission is called ‘Project Eyes’ and it utilizes advanced technology to track ships and alert authorities of potential illegal activity.
Most illegal fishing is perpetrated by modern-day pirates because it poses the potential for vast economic rewards. Experts estimate that the trade of illegally captured fish is worth over $20 billion each year. Why should consumers care about illegally caught fish? Firstly, because regulations are meant to prevent overfishing and wildlife protection. Secondly, because you may want to know exactly what you’re eating when you purchase food from your local supermarket. No one wants another horse meat scandal, right?
For governments, heavier regulation of fishing practices means they lose less money. And cracking down on $20 billion of illegal, tax-free profits amounts to something sizable.
Project Eyes is starting in a Catapult watchroom in Harwell, Oxfordshire, UK. If the project is successful, then it can be expected to expand throughout Europe and beyond. In order to track and predict illegal activity, Project Eyes is using a ‘smart’ monitoring system of satellites and an advanced algorithm.
More than simply tracking sea vessels, the algorithm analyses their movements, sea conditions, and probable fishing locations to predict what each ship is doing. There is a lot of historical data which has been input into the algorithm to predict vessel movement and fishing locations. The system should be able to detect when a vessel is fishing, and it will sound an alert if a vessel is fishing in a no-take zone. Project Eyes can then alert the authorities and catch the pirates red-handed.
While there are many satellite systems keeping a watchful eye on the seas, Project Eyes is processing a wealth of live data that supersedes what has previously been done. While vessels are supposed to be fitted with transponders, these can be compromised to give false data. Project Eye’s satellite radar data should give an accurate account of vessel activity and allow them to catch bigger boats that carry out transhipments for pirates.
Chile and Palau (a Pacific island nation) are going to be the first to use Project Eyes to crack down on illegal activity to preserve their vast marine wildlife reserve which has many Asian pirates attempting to trawl rare species. Their resources are limited, so the help of satellite technology can help them use their resources more effectively to prevent the destruction of their marine reserve.
In future, Project Eyes may even create partnerships with supermarkets to enable them to track the sourcing of their produce down to the region in which the fish were caught, and by which fisherman. This will allow companies to head new Corporate Social Responsibility campaigns that ensure ethical sourcing standards are followed. It also ensures that we, as consumers, are not supporting illegal fishing activities that can upset the balance of the ecosystem and endanger species.
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