Fishing intensity

Global Datasets of AIS-based Fishing Effort and Vessel Presence This dataset contains the Global Fishing Watch AIS-based fishing effort and vessel presence datasets. Data is based on fishing detections of >114,000 unique AIS devices on fishing vessels, of which ~70,000 are active each year. Fishing vessels are identified via a neural network classifier, vessel registry databases, and manual review by GFW and regional experts. Data are binned into grid cells 0.01 (or 0.1) degrees on a side and measured in units of hours. The time is calculated by assigning an amount of time to each AIS detection (which is the time to the previous position), and then summing all positions in each grid cell.

Data are available in two formats:

1) Fishing effort by flag state and gear type at 100th degree resolution 2) Fishing effort by MMSI at 10th degree resolution

Each version of the fishing effort dataset is accompanied by a table of vessel information (e.g. gear type, flag state, dimensions, etc.).

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Original title Fishing activity data
Original abstract
Topic category
  • fishing
Sub category
Resource language English
Domain area
  • french_part_of_the_mediterranean_sea
  • italian_part_of_the_mediterranean_sea_-_western_basin
  • spanish_part_of_the_mediterranean_sea
  • spain_marine_area
  • baltic_sea
Owner Global Fishing Watch
Provider Global Fishing Watch
Data portal Global Fishing Watch
Presentation form Map (map represented in raster or vector form)
Spatial representation Vector - point
Coordinate reference system epsg:4326 - WGS84 (degree)
Web services
    Derives from
    Derived datasets
    Successor of
    Predecessor of
    Temporal extent 2024-01-01
    2024-12-31
    Spatial extent
    Data accessibility
    Validation level Official data
    Additional information
    Metadata completeness Complete
    Notes

    Additional info - MSP - Environment

    Species, habitats, ecosystems, pressures

    Field Value
    MSFD Classes
      MSFD Descriptors/Criteria
        Non MSFD Classes
          WFD

            Additional info - MSP - Oceanographic and CC

            Physics, biochemistry, EOV, ECV

            Field Value
            Variables

              Additional info - MSP - Conservation

              Protected areas, OECM, IBA, EBSA, CCH, IMMA, ...

              Field Value
              Types
                Zonation

                Additional info - MSP - Maritime activities

                Aquaculture, fishing, transport, energy, ...

                Field Value
                Activity types Professional fishing

                Additional info - MSP - Coastal & Land use and planning

                Land use, land cover, planning (strategic, coordination, operational)

                Field Value
                Types

                  Additional info - MSP - Socio-economic

                  Living and non-living resources, shipping, tourism, energy, ...

                  Field Value
                  Activity types Fisheries and Aquaculture - Marine fishing - A0311
                  Value types
                    Categories

                      Additional info - MSP - Ecosystem Services

                      Provisioning, regulation & maintenance, cultural

                      Field Value
                      CICES classes

                        Additional info - MSP - Legal, Governance & Planning

                        Strategic, legislation, planning, administrative, enforcement

                        Field Value
                        Themes Fisheries
                        Functions
                          Who is in charge?

                          Additional info - MSP - Relevance

                          Relevance of the dataset / resource in supporting the MSP process at different spatial scales and temporal frames

                          Field Value
                          Relevance (spatial and temporal)