Fighting overfishing with AI: Satellites Expose Illegal Fishing in Marine Protected Areas

Fighting overfishing with AI is transforming how we protect the ocean. A new study revealed that nearly half of all coastal marine protected areas (MPAs) showed fishing vessel presence, with many ships operating "dark" without AIS tracking. This means that even in places meant to be safe havens for biodiversity, industrial fishing has been creeping in unnoticed.

Satellites and artificial intelligence are changing that reality. By detecting untracked vessels and guiding patrols, this technology is already leading to arrests in Gabon, better enforcement in Palau, transparency in Chile, and effective oversight in the UK Blue Belt program. In this episode, I'll break down the science behind the study, the risks remote MPAs face, and the real-world success stories that give us hope.