Japan Coast Guard studies use of AI-powered aerial drone to detect poaching

Yokosuka Coast Guard Office in Kanagawa Prefecture is exploring the implementation of an AI-powered aerial drone to combat marine product poaching. The office, which traditionally detects poachers visually, conducted a trial in the Yokosuka area, near Tokyo, this summer in collaboration with a university. The drone successfully identified a poacher engaging in turban shell harvesting during a trial in August, flagging the individual as suspicious based on video footage from the drone's camera.

Makoto Motoki, a professor at Kanto Gakuin University and head of the research team, reported that the drone can enhance monitoring efficiency. Motoki and his team trained the detection system using coast guard personnel playing the role of poachers. The trial revealed that AI can accurately identify poachers in real-world settings. The coast guard aims to further develop the technology for practical use.

The coast guard has noted a rise in so-called "leisure poaching" cases, where individuals visit the Miura Peninsula, a coastal region in the prefecture, on holidays and engage in illegal harvesting of marine products. The office reported 109 poaching-related cases to prosecutors in 2024 and 129 cases in 2025.