About Us
A decade ago, building an open-access picture of global fishing activity was out of reach. But thanks to advances in satellite technology and machine learning, Global Fishing Watch is now making it a reality.
Our Purpose
The beauty of the ocean, the life it contains and the services and resources it provides are part of humanity’s shared heritage and shared future. But the health of our ocean is under immense pressure from both intensive human activity and climate change.
Despite its importance and the threats it faces, the ocean remains the least observed part of our planet. As a result, there is no global picture of all human activity at sea and we cannot truly understand humanity’s impact on life below water.
We believe human activity at sea should be common knowledge in order to safeguard the global ocean commons for the common good of all. That’s why our purpose is to create and publicly share knowledge about human activity at sea to enable fair and sustainable use of our ocean.
Our Vision
A healthy, productive and resilient ocean where transparency drives fair and effective governance of marine resources in support of biodiversity and sustainable development.
Our Mission
Global Fishing Watch seeks to advance ocean governance through increased transparency of human activity at sea. By creating and publicly sharing map visualizations, data and analysis tools, we enable scientific research and drive a transformation in how we manage our ocean.
We generate new knowledge by using cutting-edge technology to turn big data into actionable information. We share that information publicly, and for free, to accelerate science and drive fairer, smarter policies and practices that reward good behavior and protect biodiversity, fisheries and livelihoods. By 2030, we aim to monitor and visualize the impact of ocean-going vessels, both industrial and small-scale, that are responsible for the vast majority of the global seafood catch.
Downloads
Fact sheet
Our Approach
We create new knowledge by using cutting-edge technology to turn big data into actionable information.
We share information publicly, and for free, to accelerate science and drive fairer, smarter policies and practices that reward good behavior and protect biodiversity, fisheries and livelihoods.
We promote international cooperation and transparency around ocean data to enable a new era of ocean governance.
Our History
Global Fishing Watch was founded in 2015 through a collaboration between three partners: Oceana, an international ocean conservation organization; SkyTruth, a technology firm that uses satellite imagery and data to protect the environment; and Google, whose tools and contributions help process big data.
In June 2017, almost a year after being officially launched at the Our Ocean Conference hosted by the U.S. State Department, Global Fishing Watch was established as an independent, international nonprofit organization.
Programs
We aim to expand fisheries transparency and understanding human activity at sea.
Map and Data
Our technology products support better marine spatial planning and ocean governance.
Our Technology
We are revolutionizing the ability to monitor commercial fishing, transshipment at sea, shipping and even forced labor abuses onboard vessels.
Our Partnerships
We are working together with governments, research institutions, nongovernmental organizations and the fishing sector to make the biggest impact possible.
