Loitering with intent-Catching the outlier vessels at sea.

Jessica H Ford,David Peel,Britta Denise Hardesty,Uwe Rosebrock,Chris Wilcox,Athanassios C Tsikliras

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0200189

Abstract

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities pose one of the most significant threats to sustainable fisheries worldwide. Identifying illegal behaviour, specifically fishing and at-sea transhipment, continues to be a fundamental hurdle in combating IUU fishing. Here, we explore the use of spatial statistical methods to identify vessels behaving anomalously, in particular with regard to loitering, using the Indonesian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and surrounding waters as a case-study. Using Automatic Identification System (AIS) for vessel tracking, we applied Generalized Additive Models to capture both the temporal and spatial nature of loitering behaviour. We identified three statistically anomalous loitering behaviours (based on time, speed and distance) and applied the models to 2700 vessels in the region. We were able to rank vessels for individual and joint probability of atypical behaviour, providing a hierarchical list of vessels engaging in anomalous behaviour. While identification of irregular behaviour does not mean vessels are definitely engaging in illegal activities, this statistical modelling approach can be used to prioritise the allocation of enforcement resources and assist authorities under the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization Port State Measures Agreement for management and enforcement of IUU fishing associated activities.

Highlights

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities pose a significant threat to sustainability in capture fisheries worldwide
IUU fishing by its nature is unregulated and unreported, without concern or incentive for sustainability; such activities can result in the depletion of fish stocks, loss of economic revenues, and reduction in local livelihoods
We utilize Automatic Identification System (AIS) data in the area where the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries of Indonesia, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia meet in the Arafura Sea

Summary

Introduction

Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing activities pose a significant threat to sustainability in capture fisheries worldwide. IUU fishing by its nature is unregulated and unreported, without concern or incentive for sustainability; such activities can result in the depletion of fish stocks, loss of economic revenues, and reduction in local livelihoods. IUU fishing activities can take many forms ranging from large foreign vessels stealing fish from the domestic waters of another country to small domestic operators failing to report catch rates accurately or those using gear for which they are not licensed. It includes vessels that are engaged in activities that support IUU fishing behaviour, such as receiving and transferring catch, often called transhipment, and the refuelling of fishing vessels at sea. A recent United Nations report on crime in the fishing industry refer to all fishing activities.

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Results

Conclusion