Prevent Overfishing with Transparency and Technology: A Conversation with Global Fishing Watch

Prevent overfishing by making the invisible visible. In this episode, Courtney Farthing from Global Fishing Watch explains how vessel tracking and open data systems are key to protecting marine life and holding industrial fisheries accountable. With over 75% of industrial fishing vessels missing from public monitoring systems, it’s time to shine a light on what’s happening at sea.

Global Fishing Watch is leading the charge to prevent overfishing through transparency, making vessel locations, identities, and activities publicly accessible. Courtney shares how this data empowers governments, researchers, and communities to respond quickly to illegal and unsustainable fishing, and why a global vessel tracking agreement is urgently needed. If you care about sustainable seafood, marine biodiversity, or the health of the ocean, this episode will show you how technology can help prevent overfishing before it’s too late.

Global Fishing Watch
Website: https://globalfishingwatch.org/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/globalfishingwatch/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFMjCB4uesIrCmO2G5II5zw
BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/globalfishingwatch.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-fishing-watch/

Chapters:
00:00 – Introduction: Why the ocean is still a mystery
03:53 – How Global Fishing Watch is changing vessel tracking
08:10 – What transparency really means for the ocean
14:00 – How tracking improves fisheries enforcement
20:25 – UN resolutions pushing for data transparency
24:06 – The promise and limits of ocean tech
30:20 – What a global vessel tracking agreement could do
35:23 – Why 75% of fishing isn’t visible
39:51 – How GFW works with governments to fill the gap
44:20 – Hopes for the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice
47:50 – Final thoughts: A hopeful path to prevent overfishing

#oceanconservation #MarineBiology #SaveOurOceans #ProtectTheOcean #OceanAwareness #BluePlanet #ConservationMatters #ScienceForChange #SustainableOceans
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