Latest news with #GPS-based
Scoop
3 days ago
- Science
- Scoop
New Research: Satellite Imagery Detects Illegal Fishing Activity, Shows Strict Protections Work
Washington, D.C. (July 24, 2025) — New peer-reviewed research in the journal Science demonstrates the power of strict legal bans against industrial fishing in marine protected areas (MPAs). The analysis — which combines satellite imagery and artificial intelligence technology to detect previously untraceable vessels — reveals that most of the globe's fully and highly protected MPAs successfully deter illegal fishing. The study is the first of its kind to demonstrate that the most strictly protected marine reserves are well respected and are not simply 'paper parks.' The study, 'Little-to-no industrial fishing occurs in fully and highly protected marine areas' finds that: 78.5% of the 1,380 MPAs studied had no commercial fishing activity; Of the MPAs where satellite images detected illegal fishing activity, 82% of them averaged less than 24 hours of activity per calendar year; Strongly protected MPAs had, on average, nine times fewer fishing vessels per square kilometer than unprotected coastal areas; and MPAs designated as strictly-protected with significant fishing activity included those in the Chagos Marine Reserve, the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (combined with the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park), each with approximately 900 hours per year. 'Because strictly protected marine areas discourage illegal fishing, fishes are far more abundant within their boundaries, they produce more babies, and help replenish surrounding areas,' remarked Enric Sala, one of the study's co-authors, a National Geographic Explorer in Residence, and founder of Pristine Seas. 'In other words, the fishing industry benefits from following the rules.' Illegal fishing poses a significant global threat, jeopardising both the health of ocean ecosystems and the economic stability of the fishing industry. Scientific evidence shows that strictly protected MPAs restore marine life within their boundaries, improve local fishing, provide jobs and economic benefits, and build resilience against a warming ocean. But when MPAs are minimally or lightly protected, the benefits practically disappear. 'The ocean is no longer too big to watch. With cutting-edge satellites and AI, we're making illegal fishing visible and proving that strong marine protections work,' said Juan Mayorga, a scientist with Pristine Seas and co-author of the study. To arrive at their conclusions, researchers analysed five billion vessel positions from the Automatic Identification Systems (AIS), a GPS-based safety signal transmitted by many industrial fishing vessels, and paired this with satellite images generated by Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which can detect vessels regardless of weather or light conditions. The combination of the datasets — and the use of AI models developed by Global Fishing Watch — allowed researchers to detect the majority of fishing vessels over fifteen meters long, including so-called dark vessels that do not broadcast their location and often operate to evade detection. 'No single dataset can solve the challenge of monitoring fishing activity at sea; each has its blind spots,' asserted Mayorga. 'But when we combine them, their power emerges. By fusing AIS tracking with satellite radar imagery and AI, we are now much closer to the full picture of human activity across the ocean. That's especially important in the crown jewels of the ocean — the world's most strongly protected areas — where the stakes for enforcement and biodiversity are highest.' Researchers found that the AIS data missed almost 90% of SAR-based fishing vessel detections within these MPAs. Inaccurate data, limited resources and the vastness of the ocean have made effectively monitoring MPAs for industrial fishing a challenge. This groundbreaking methodology offers a powerful new way to assess fishing compliance and bridge blind spots in current monitoring methods, the authors found. 'By using satellites to track fishing vessels, countries can predict the locations of illegal activities and target patrol efforts, saving both manpower and money,' said Jennifer Raynor, the study's lead author and a professor of natural resource economics in UW–Madison's Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology. A growing body of research shows that MPAs produce spillover of fishes and invertebrates that increases the catches of species from small and sedentary (lobsters, scallops) to large and migratory (tuna). A 2024 study revealed that fishing catch per unit effort increases, on average, 12% to 18% near the boundaries of large fully protected MPAs. 'Illegal fishing takes place in areas of the ocean set aside for protection, but using satellites we have found — for the first time ever — that the level of protection determines how much risk industrial fishers are willing to take on,' Sala remarked. 'Fully and highly marine protected areas discourage illegal fishing. The stricter the rules in place to conserve ocean areas, the more benefits nations receive — including more fish to be caught outside protected areas' boundaries.' National Geographic Pristine Seas Pristine Seas works with Indigenous and local communities, governments, and other partners to help protect vital places in the ocean using a unique combination of research, community engagement, policy work, and filmmaking. Since 2008, our program has conducted nearly 50 expeditions around the world and helped establish 30 marine reserves, spanning more than 6.9 million square kilometers of ocean. Pristine Seas is part of the global non-profit, the National Geographic Society. Our mission is driven by science and filmmaking — we are fully independent from National Geographic publishing and its media arm.
Shafaq News
08-07-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq launches electronic seal system at Umm Qasr customs
Shafaq News – Baghdad/Basra Iraq's General Authority of Customs announced on Tuesday the launch of an electronic seal tracking system for shipments, starting from the Umm Qasr Middle Customs Center in southern Iraq. According to a statement, the system was activated on Monday, July 7, in cooperation with the Border Crossings Authority. It covers goods, pharmaceuticals, and medical supplies being transported to the inland Al-Jaff port and Shaljia Customs. The new system uses GPS-based electronic seals connected to a dedicated circuit. Shipment data is uploaded to the central computer system at Umm Qasr Middle Customs, where all technical and administrative requirements for implementation have been completed. Thamer Qasim Dawood, Director General of the General Authority of Customs, described the move as a 'significant qualitative step' toward modernizing Iraq's customs system. He said the electronic seal would improve performance, reduce processing time, combat smuggling, and ensure the safe and accurate movement of shipments. According to the statement, the system aims to enhance shipment tracking, ensure cargo flow, shorten customs procedures, combat the smuggling of goods and medicines, and improve institutional efficiency.
Hindustan Times
19-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
India will soon ditch GPS timekeeping for indigenous system: Pralhad Joshi
India will soon abandon GPS-based timekeeping in favour of an indigenous system to safeguard critical sectors from potential foreign disruptions, Union consumer affairs minister Prahlad Joshi announced on Wednesday. The move represents a significant step towards technological sovereignty as India prepares to rely on a domestically managed network of five atomic clocks rather than the US-controlled Global Positioning System for maintaining Indian Standard Time. 'Currently we depend on an external time source, which is GPS. GPS is owned by the US. India will source time from an indigenous system of five atomic clocks spread over different parts of the country to accurately keep the time, down to nanoseconds,' said Ashish Agarwal, principal scientist at the state-backed National Physical Laboratory. The decision stems partly from historical concerns about foreign dependency. Agarwal noted that 'during the Kargil War, the US had refused to share GPS coordinates with India for keeping time, which had created obstructions in the military operations.' The new system aims to protect sensitive sectors including navigation, defence and banking from potential foreign interference. Consumer affairs secretary Nidhi Khare explained that relying on foreign time sources creates 'very fine differences and varying time stamps, which can greatly impact sensitive operations, such as banking, equities and defence.' 'Often, different time stamps can lead to legal disputes,' Khare added. The minister said compliance with the indigenous system would be mandatory for commercial entities, banks and all establishments once operational. However, the change will not alter IST itself, which will maintain its offset of +05:30 relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The five highly calibrated atomic clocks are located in Guwahati, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Faridabad and Bhubaneswar. Officials said the clocks have been tested and trialled and the system is expected to become operational soon. GPS, owned by the US government and operated by the United States Air Force, currently provides timing accurately to 10 nanoseconds worldwide. The precision becomes critical in sensitive operations such as missile launches, where 'milliseconds or nanoseconds' can prove vital, Agarwal explained. India joins other major powers including Russia and China in developing autonomous timekeeping capabilities, reflecting broader global trends towards reducing dependency on foreign-controlled infrastructure for critical national functions. The indigenous system represents part of India's broader Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative aimed at achieving self-reliance in strategic technologies.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Plan to regulate pvt ambulance services
Bhubaneswar: Officials on Saturday announced comprehensive reforms to regulate private ambulance services , aimed at ensuring transparent and efficient emergency medical transport . In a high-level meeting chaired by transport secretary Usha Padhee, along with health and family welfare secretary Aswathy S, officials outlined plans for a standardised regulatory framework that will transform emergency medical services. A campaign-mode registration drive will be launched to bring all private ambulances under a unified platform, creating a verified database for better service monitoring and deployment. The initiative includes integrating registered vehicles with a GPS-based vehicle location tracking system (VLTS) for real-time monitoring. "This reform will significantly improve emergency response times and ensure better accessibility to medical transport, particularly in remote areas. The govt will also introduce incentives for private operators who register and comply with the new guidelines," Padhee said. A key feature of the reform is the integration with the Odisha Yatri app , enabling citizens to easily locate and book ambulance services through their smartphones. To protect against overcharging, a new standard operating procedure will establish regulated fares linked to the Consumer Price Index. "Our goal is to create a healthcare ecosystem that leaves no citizen behind. By combining technology with strong regulatory oversight, we can ensure timely medical assistance for all," said Aswathy. The initiative represents a significant step in modernising Odisha's healthcare infrastructure, with a key focus on interdepartmental coordination and digital integration in achieving these goals, a govt statement said. The reforms are expected to particularly benefit rural and underserved areas, where access to reliable emergency medical transport is challenging. Implementation timeline and specific details of the incentive structure will be announced in the coming weeks, sources said.
