Global Fishing Attack Analysis and Visualization

Commercial Fishing
Feb. 24, 2019

Overview

Working with "Data for Cause" and "Global Fishing Watch" to visualize fishing activity around the world. Global Fishing Watch is a organisation launched in September 2016 by Google in partnership with Oceana and SkyTruth "to provide the world’s first global view of commercial fishing activities." At any moment, 200,000 vessels are publicizing their locations via the Automatic Identification System (AIS). Global Fishing Watch uses AIS tracking devices and other kinds of information to show what's happening in the oceans around the world. They monitor commercial fishing activity and larger boats.

Data Set Summary

  • 5 years of Data : 2012 to 2016
  • Types of Inferred Fishing Vehicle :
    • trawlers
    • fixed_gear
    • Purse_seines
    • Squid_jigger
    • drifting_longlines
    • Other_fishing
  • No of Countries Fished (determined by ISO_Ter1) : 190
  • No of Countries Fishing (determined by vessel flag) : 117

Contents

  • Top Countries by Fishing Volume (fishing hours)
  • Top Fishing Regions
  • Deep dive into top 5 counties by fishing volume

Project Details

Global fishing volume increase at 30% CAGR between 2012 and 2016

Top 30 countries by fishing volumes

  • China, Taiwan, Spain, France and Korea are top 5 countries by fishing volumes in 2016
  • Fishing volume of Top 5 countries accounted for 46.7% of total finisign volume in 2012, and it increased to 51% in 2016
  • China has highest finishing volume accounting for 17% of global fishing; it is also the fastest growing country by fishing volumes

Top 30 Countries Whose Waters Are Fished (determined by hours)

  • Top fishing areas by volume (>20K hours of fishing hours in 2016)
    1. GBR - United Kingdoms (Europe)
    2. KIR - Kiribati (Oceania)
    3. IRL - Ireland (Europe)
    4. SJM - Svalbard and Jan Mayen (Europe)
    5. SLB - Solomon Islands
    6. VUT - Vanuatu (Oceania)
    7. NOR - Norway (Europe)
  • Key growth countries in last 2 years
    • FLK - Falkland Islands (Malvinas) (South America)
    • MDG - Madagascar (Africa)
    • ARG - Argentina (South America)
    • FSM - Micronesia, Federated States of (Oceania)
    • GNB - Guinea-Bissau (Africa)
    • MHL - Marshall Islands (Oceania)
    • SYC - Seychelles (Africa)

Take away and Next steps

  • Key Takeaways
    • Asian countries (China, Taiwan, Korea) are fishing mainly in waters of Oceanic Countries
    • China is biggest and fastest growing country by fishing volume. China fished for over 1 Million hours in 2016, with second country was half the volume. China grew by over 150% CAGR between 2012 and 2016, while overall volume gre only by 30%. China is mainly fishing in Oceania region
    • European (Spain,France) countries are mainly fish in neighbouring European countries. However, there is an increasing trend to fish in African and South American region
  • Next Steps
    • Identify trade agreements between countries to assess exploitation
    • Reasons to justify increased fishing activity in waters of smaller countries in Oceania region by China and Taiwan
    • Key reason for volume growth by China as population is almost stagnant
    To Learn More Contact Below