Global Fishing Watch: A Year of Transformative Ocean Governance
Washington, D.C., March 17, 2025 – Global Fishing Watch, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to driving transparent and equitable ocean governance, recently released its 2024 annual report. The report showcases an extraordinary year filled with groundbreaking research, policy advancements, and strategic collaborations.
Global Impact: 11,000 New Users and 900,000 Tracked Vessels
The report highlights a significant surge in the use of Global Fishing Watch’s tools, with 11,000 new registered map users in 2024 – a 50 percent increase from the previous year. Additionally, around 900,000 vessels were tracked on the organization’s flagship map, and nearly 1,500 research citations were generated. These numbers underscore the growing demand for technological solutions in ocean governance.
Revolutionizing Ocean Governance: Mapping Industrial Ocean Use and Collaborations
One of the most impactful achievements of the past year was a study led by Global Fishing Watch and published in the journal Nature, which produced the first global map of large-vessel traffic and offshore infrastructure. This mapping allows governments, scientists, and civil society to understand the industrial ocean workspace, identify potential illegal activity, and visualize vessel traffic. Moreover, it can help estimate greenhouse gas emissions at sea, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
Expanding Reach: Partnerships with Governments and Multilateral Organizations
Global Fishing Watch signed partnership agreements with several governments and multilateral organizations, including the Governments of Greece and Panama and the West African Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission and the Gulf of Guinea Regional Fisheries Commission. These collaborations will help inform decision-makers and strengthen fisheries management, further bolstering global efforts to protect marine resources.
Beyond Fisheries Management: Climate Action and Biodiversity
The organization’s impact extended beyond fisheries management, as Global Fishing Watch tools were used in the climate and biodiversity spaces. A collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara and Climate TRACE was unveiled at the United Nations Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP29), revealing the integration of Global Fishing Watch’s unique dataset into Climate TRACE’s platform to map and estimate the emissions of all ocean-faring industrial vessels. Additionally, a study using Global Fishing Watch data discovered that fewer than 7 percent of global hotspots for whale and ship collisions have protection measures in place, emphasizing the urgent need for greater oversight of waterways.
Looking Ahead: Big Ambitions for 2025
As the organization looks ahead to 2025, Global Fishing Watch will continue its mission to promote vessel tracking policies, advocate for an international vessel tracking agreement, and map all human activity at sea through the open ocean project. These efforts aim to provide authorities with a clear picture of human activity at sea and empower them to protect the ocean and sustainably manage its resources.
For individuals, the implications of Global Fishing Watch’s work are significant. By increasing transparency and accountability in ocean governance, the organization is helping to safeguard marine resources, combat illegal fishing, and contribute to a healthier ocean for future generations. Additionally, its collaborations with governments, multilateral organizations, and research institutions can lead to more effective policy-making and scientific understanding of the ocean.
On a global scale, the impact of Global Fishing Watch’s work is far-reaching. By driving technological innovation and collaboration, the organization is helping to address some of the most pressing challenges facing our ocean, from illegal fishing to climate change and biodiversity loss. With continued support and partnerships, Global Fishing Watch can continue to advance ocean governance and contribute to a more sustainable future for our planet.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Global Fishing Watch’s 2024 annual report underscores an extraordinary year of progress in driving transparent and equitable ocean governance. With a surge in user growth, groundbreaking research, strategic collaborations, and expanding reach into climate action and biodiversity, the organization is leading the way in using technology and transparency to drive better governance and protect marine resources. As the organization looks ahead to 2025, it remains committed to expanding partnerships, advancing research, and delivering actionable data that supports sustainable ocean governance, ensuring that transparency becomes the rule rather than the exception.
- Global Fishing Watch reported a 50 percent increase in registered map users in 2024, with around 900,000 vessels tracked and nearly 1,500 research citations generated.
- A groundbreaking study led by Global Fishing Watch and published in Nature produced the first global map of large-vessel traffic and offshore infrastructure, revealing an unprecedented view of previously unseen industrial ocean use.
- The organization signed partnership agreements with several governments and multilateral organizations, including Greece, Panama, the West African Sub-Regional Fisheries Commission, and the Gulf of Guinea Regional Fisheries Commission, to strengthen fisheries management and global efforts to protect marine resources.
- Collaborations with the University of California, Santa Barbara and Climate TRACE, as well as a study using Global Fishing Watch data, highlighted the broadening application of the organization’s tools beyond fisheries management, including in the climate and biodiversity spaces.
- Global Fishing Watch will continue its mission to promote vessel tracking policies, advocate for an international vessel tracking agreement, and map all human activity at sea in 2025.
With transparency and innovation at its core, Global Fishing Watch is leading the charge in driving a more accountable and sustainable future for the world’s ocean. Together, we can use technology and transparency to drive better governance and safeguard marine resources for future generations.
