Mapping Fishing Effort through AIS Data

Abstract

Several research initiatives have been undertaken to map fishing effort at high spatial resolution using the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS). An alternative to the VMS is represented by the Automatic Identification System (AIS), which in the EU became compulsory in May 2014 for all fishing vessels of length above 15 meters. The aim of this paper is to assess the uptake of the AIS in the EU fishing fleet and the feasibility of producing a map of fishing effort with high spatial and temporal resolution at European scale. After analysing a large AIS dataset for the period January-August 2014 and covering most of the EU waters, we show that AIS was adopted by around 75% of EU fishing vessels above 15 meters of length. Using the Swedish fleet as a case study, we developed a method to identify fishing activity based on the analysis of individual vessels’ speed profiles and produce a high resolution map of fishing effort based on AIS data. The method was validated using detailed logbook data and proved to be sufficiently accurate and computationally efficient to identify fishing grounds and effort in the case of trawlers, which represent the largest portion of the EU fishing fleet above 15 meters of length. Issues still to be addressed before extending the exercise to the entire EU fleet are the assessment of coverage levels of the AIS data for all EU waters and the identification of fishing activity in the case of vessels other than trawlers.

Mapping EU fishing activities using ship tracking data

“…In Europe (EU Dir 2011/15/EU), even fishing vessels down to 15 m in length are required to be fitted with AIS, and this has a significant impact in understanding the spatial distribution of fishing efforts (e.g. Mazzarella, Vespe, Damalas, & Osio, 2014;Natale, Gibin, Alessandrini, Vespe, & Paulrud, 2015) and the economics of the EU fisheries sector (Natale, Gibin, Alessandrini, Vespe, & Osio, 2016). The knowledge of fishing activities is not only fundamental for fisheries science, but it is also a key element for policy-makers, for example, in planning activities at sea (Maritime Spatial Planning) or in assessing the impact of introducing new Marine Protected Areas.…”

A Review of the Tools Used for Marine Monitoring in the UK: Combining Historic and Contemporary Methods with Modeling and Socioeconomics to Fulfill Legislative Needs and Scientific Ambitions

“…For example, high-resolution maps of fishing effort have been developed from the Swedish trawling fleet using AIS data alone. Validation with logbook entry data proved this approach was accurate for calculating fishing effort, but also for identifying key fishing grounds (Natale et al, 2015). Complications around access to data from such vessel monitoring systems, due to legal and confidentiality constraints, need to be resolved (Gerritsen and Lordan, 2011).…”

Potential for a Simple GPS‐Based Binary Logit Model to Predict Fishing Effort in a Vertical Hook‐and‐Line Reef Fish Fishery

“…In general, GPSDLs can perform the same functions as VMSs but at lower costs and with reduced at-sea reporting capabilities (NMFS 2015). Two additional, but less studied approaches, include the use of the fishery observing system (Falco et al 2007) and the automated identification system (Natale et al 2015). In general, the fishery observing system combines environmental and oceanographic data to assist in the analysis of catch and effort data (Carpi et al 2015).…”

“…In general, the fishery observing system combines environmental and oceanographic data to assist in the analysis of catch and effort data (Carpi et al 2015). The automated identification system appears to offer the same data as a VMS but with an improvement in terms of temporal resolution (Natale et al 2015). Regardless of the approach, there is a need to continue exploratory electronic effort data collection and validation in fisheries, such as with simple GPS data.…”

“…A growing body of literature supports the use of a vessel speed rule to predict fishing and nonfishing activity (Lee et al 2010;Gerritsen and Lordan 2011;Natale et al 2015). However, most studies to date have analyzed gear types that require substantial vessel movement to actively harvest fish, such as trawls.…”