No Patrol Boat? No Problem. Catch Illegal Fishing Vessels in Port. (The Pew Charitable Trusts) ...

(Source: The Pew Charitable Trusts) Illegal fishing happens in every ocean in the world, accounting for up to $23.5 billion worth of seafood. In two recent posts, I wrote about the two vital elements in this fight: how to best positively identify fishing vessels and how to track them as they move around the seas. In this piece, I'll address the third component-how to best close the net around an illegal fishing suspect. Traditionally, governments have relied on patrol vessels or aircraft to chase down potential poachers. While vital, that method of policing is also costly, often dangerous, and inefficient due to the expense and logistical challenges of policing huge areas of the ocean. In...