Now you see them: Researchers uncover patterns in vessels that vanish at sea
Across the waters of West Africa, commercial fishing vessels vanish along international boundary lines.
In West Africa, commercial fishing vessels vanish unexpectedly along international boundary lines, often without a trace. Researchers from FIU have discovered that 11 vessels account for 73% of these dark journeys. The criminologists Stephen Pires and Emilie Christiansen, along with Dylan Spencer from Georgia Southern University, analyzed thousands of instances where commercial fishing vessels intentionally disabled their automatic identification systems (AIS) off the coast of West Africa.
Their study, published in Applied Geography, reveals that these vessels are not disappearing randomly. Instead, they tend to go dark in specific locations and under certain flags. The ships are flying "flags of convenience," which means they are registered in countries with weaker enforcement and oversight. While both flags of convenience and AIS gaps do not necessarily indicate illegal fishing, they have been linked to increased risk of such activities.
The researchers found that these vessels are more likely to be involved in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. By identifying these chronic offenders, authorities can focus surveillance on particular boundary areas and vessels that frequently disappear from tracking systems. This approach could lead to a significant reduction in illegal activity and help ensure the sustainability of ocean resources.
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