Abstract
Spatially explicit records of fishing activities’ distribution are fundamental for effective marine spatial planning (MSP) because they can help to identify principal fishing areas. However, in numerous case studies, MSP has ignored fishing activities due to data scarcity. The vessel monitoring system (VMS) and the automatic identification system (AIS) are two commonly known technologies used to observe fishing activities. However, both technologies generate data that have several limitations, making them ineffective when used in isolation. Here, we evaluate both datasets’ limitations and strengths, measure the drawbacks of using any single dataset and propose a method for combining both technologies for a more precise estimation of the distribution of fishing activities. Using the Baltic Sea and the North Sea–Celtic Sea regions as case studies, we compare the spatial distribution of fishing effort from International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) VMS data and global fishing watch AIS data. We show that using either dataset in isolation can lead to a significant underestimation of fishing effort. We also demonstrate that integrating both datasets in an ensemble approach can provide more accurate fisheries information for MSP. Given the rapid expansion of MSP activities globally, our approach can be utilised in data-limited regions to improve cross border spatial planning.
Highlights
Increasing demand for marine ecosystem services globally has led to increased pressure on marine ecosystems and competition for space among various marine uses [1,2]
First, we investigate the possible discrepancies between vessel monitoring system (VMS) data provided by the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) and the automatic identification system (AIS)
We identified discrepancies in the spatial-temporal coverage of fishing activities by the VMS and AIS datasets
Summary
Increasing demand for marine ecosystem services globally has led to increased pressure on marine ecosystems and competition for space among various marine uses [1,2]. To address the effects of pressures on marine areas, managers are considering more holistic management approaches to managing maritime spaces [3]. Is one of the main tools for a holistic management of marine resources. MSP involves allocating marine space for different uses considering the areas’ suitability, impacts on the environment and possible conflicts between activities [4]. Among the steps for implementing MSP [4], defining and analysing the existing and future conditions requires high-resolution spatio-temporal data on the various marine uses [5]
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