A Step Towards Seascape Scale Conservation: Using Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) to Map Fishing Activity

Knowledge regarding the spatial ecology of non-target species of conservation concern (e.g. cetaceans, elasmobranchs, turtles and seabirds) is ever-growing from boat and aerial surveys [8], an increasing array of electronic tagging and tracking methods [9], [10], plus molecular and other forensic techniques [11], [12]. Analyses of capture records from vessels carrying independent observers have both elucidated the ecology of non-target species but also provided eort-corrected and temporally and spatially relevant insights into the magnitude of impacts of dierent gear types [13]–[15].