All over the world, oceans are being exploited for their economic potential. Industries including fishing, shipping and the production of energy generate at least $1.5 trillion per year, a figure expected to double by 2030, but their excessive activity has severe implications for the environment.
In order to preserve the health of our oceans and maintain the critical services they provide, industrial activity must be carefully monitored and reported. According to the latest research, there is significant room for improvement.
The study, published in Nature, exposes an enormous amount of industrial activity that goes undetected by conventional monitoring systems and is not reported by those responsible. Using technologies such as satellite imagery, GPS data and AI, the researchers were able to identify current blind spots and fill them with the evidence needed to paint a clear picture of what truly goes on at sea.
Ultimately, the researchers estimate that up to 76% of industrial fishing vessels are not publicly tracked, nor are 21-30% of vessels linked to the energy sector or maritime transport. They identified around 28,000 offshore structures, including oil platforms, wind turbines, bridges and farms, noting that the number of turbines has more than doubled since 2017 and now exceeds the number of oil platforms.
Read the entire article here: https://www.sgvoice.net/strategy/research/47965/ai-satellites-expose-ocean-activity/
