How vessel tracking brings the world’s fishing fleets into view 

Understanding what happens at sea is key to protecting it. While most industrial fishing vessels are already tracked by governments using established systems, there are still challenges in visibility across jurisdictions and in areas beyond national responsibility. 

Vessel tracking technologies help address these challenges by supporting monitoring, compliance, and operational efficiency across the sector.

What is vessel tracking?

Vessel tracking technology allows monitoring the location, identity, speed, and direction in near-real time. Two main systems are in use today, including: 

• Automatic Identification System (AIS) transponders broadcast vessel data to nearby ships and coastal authorities via terrestrial, satellite, or ship-borne receivers. AIS was originally designed for collision avoidance and safety of life at sea. Where used, it can also provide useful supplementary data for scientific research and broader visibility, particularly in areas beyond national jurisdictions.

Although only a small proportion of the global fishing fleet carries AIS, these vessels account for a significant share of fishing activity on the high seas. This provides useful visibility in areas where oversight responsibilities may be less clearly defined.

• Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), developed specifically for fisheries management, transmit vessel location and identification data at regular intervals to designated authorities. VMS data is typically restricted to authorized users due to national legislation and data protection requirements. Governments rely on VMS as the primary tool for monitoring fishing activity within their jurisdictions.

How vessel tracking supports sustainable fisheries 

The applications are broad, and the range of actors who rely on this data reflects that. At the enforcement level, fisheries agencies and international bodies use vessel tracking data to identify illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and support marine protected area (MPA) compliance. Organizations like OceanMind combine vessel tracking with other data sources to flag suspicious activity and help authorities act on it.

Beyond enforcement, NGOs and researchers draw on vessel tracking data to analyze fishing patterns and advocate for policy change, while seafood companies and certification bodies use it to verify where and how fish were caught — strengthening the credibility of sustainability labels and consumer-facing claims.

Vessel tracking can also benefit operators directly. Analyzing routes and speeds helps make their journeys more efficient, while reducing emissions and lowering operational costs. 

The benefits of these tools can flow directly to fishing communities, too. For example, in Tamil Nadu, India, more than 200 trawlers voluntarily adopted Odaku’s marine navigation and vessel tracking system in a community-led, self-monitoring effort to resolve disputes between traditional and mechanized fishing fleets. Fishers obtain digital tokens before heading out and submit GPS navigation data upon return, creating verifiable records that help to assess competing claims quickly and fairly.

Where vessel tracking is gaining traction

Both AIS and VMS were developed in the 1990s, but technology has improved and adoption is growing. Every year, the number of vessels with AIS grows 10–30%, with more than 400,000 AIS devices now broadcasting. VMS programs are also on the rise: Thailand’s monitor more than 6,000 vessels, and several countries have released VMS data publicly on the Global Fishing Watch map.

Adoption challenges remain, particularly for smaller vessels. In many cases, cost is the primary barrier to wider uptake of VMS-type systems. The Tamil Nadu model noted above — where fishers control their own data and drove adoption themselves — points toward what works.

Driving transparency for a brighter future in ocean protection

Vessel tracking functions best as one part of a broader toolkit. Combined with electronic monitoring, supply chain traceability systems, and AI-driven data analysis, it forms a more complete picture of what’s happening at sea — and who is accountable for it.

To learn more about how these and other emerging technologies are supporting ocean protection, read the report.