Satellites have revealed that strictly protected marine areas (MPAs) effectively exclude industrial fishing, according to a study led by Jennifer Raynor from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The research, published in Science, utilized artificial intelligence methods applied to satellite data to monitor industrial fishing activity in MPAs. The findings showed that the world’s most strongly protected MPAs had minimal industrial fishing activity.
Raynor, a professor of natural resource economics at UW–Madison’s Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology, stated: “We found that MPAs with strict legal fishing bans work better than critics claim.” She added that while MPAs can regenerate fish populations and create incentives for illegal fishing, such activity was mostly absent.
The study analyzed 1,380 MPAs that ban industrial fishing within exclusive economic zones (EEZs), capturing 2.1% of the global ocean area. Researchers examined real-time vessel locations using the Automatic Identification System (AIS) but noted its limitations due to tampering and poor signal reception. To address these issues, they used synthetic aperture radar (SAR) from satellites to track “dark vessels” not detected by AIS.
The analysis found significantly less fishing activity in strongly protected MPAs compared to surrounding waters. In some cases, no vessels were detected over several years. Enric Sala from Pristine Seas highlighted the benefits: “Because strictly protected marine areas discourage illegal fishing, fishes are far more abundant within their boundaries.”
Raynor emphasized the importance of satellite monitoring for shaping global policies on future MPAs: “By using satellites to track fishing vessels, countries can predict the locations of illegal activities and target patrol efforts.” This approach is seen as crucial for achieving the Global Biodiversity Framework’s goal of protecting 30% of oceans by 2030.
