Satellites Can Spot Illegal Fishing, but Vague Laws Let It Slide

A new cross-country analysis in npj Ocean Sustainability says satellite technology is capable of detecting illegal fishing inside marine protected areas—yet many laws can’t use that evidence effectively. The study, led by Fabio Favoretto of the University of Plymouth with partners including Scripps Institution of Oceanography, ProtectedSeas and Pristine Seas, examined 9,740 protected zones across 15 countries. Researchers created a Regulation Preparedness Index to see whether rule language matches what remote monitoring can prove. The average score was 33/100. Sixty-one percent of zones used discretionary wording, and only 4% referenced vessel monitoring or satellite technology, making enforcement difficult even when detection is clear.