The international organization Global Fishing Watch has created a satellite radar system that enables the detection and mapping of ships that are not transmitting their position nor do they appear in public monitoring systems to potentially hide their activities. illegal and harmful to the ocean.
This is the world’s first global map. “dark fleets” Its presentation coincides with the celebration of World Oceans Day this Wednesday and, according to its creators, aims to help authorities, researchers and the general public know about the activities of ships in coastal waters and to ensure that they avoid as much as possible illegal activities that threaten the ocean.
new fleet detection system called synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is free and accessible to everyone through an internet portal which is updated daily.
Working 24 hours in all conditions
As described by Global Fishing Watch, the radar Works day and night in all weather conditions and can produce images despite cloud cover or storm systems, significantly expanding its detection capability compared to other sensor-powered satellite systems.
The operation of this new radar consists of an active sensor. throws microwaves at the earth’s surface It measures the amplitude and phase of signals reflected from objects on the ground and in water.
These turn signals allow knows the size, orientation, composition, condition and texture of objects Unlike passive satellite sensors, this new technology is unaffected by cloud cover, haze, weather events, or seasonal darkness at high latitudes.
The result is broader insights into ship movements in the global ocean, information that can help authorities. detect areas with suspicious activitymodels of ships operating illegally or unmeasured fishing pressures.
Better ocean management
The new satellite radar will help reduce the “information gap” created by some vessels, according to David Kroodsma, director of research and innovation at Global Fishing Watch. they often turn off their signals to hide their activity”that prevent the ocean from being managed “fairly and sustainably”.
In addition, he stressed that the use of satellite radar to detect and map “previously covert and potentially illegal or harmful” activities “expands the possibilities.” remote sensing and the battle of big technology for the environment”.
Global Fishing Watch satellite radar It revealed that about 900 Chinese vessels were illegally fishing in North Korean waters.According to the organization, it is “the largest known case of illegal fishing by an industrial fleet operating in another country’s waters”.
Since then, the use of satellite radar has been improved and expanded to study fishing activities “near-seen never before seen near marine protected areas in the Mediterranean and where previously hidden activity hotspots have been seen in the coastal waters of Africa” and “the ocean is much more than conventional monitoring systems show.” intense,” the creators say.
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