Monitoring Pelagic Fishing Activity in the Northeast Atlantic

Vessel tracking systems data, namely the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), developed for fisheries control, and the Automatic Identification System (AIS), developed to promote safety at sea, when taken in conjunction with e-logbooks and sales notes constitute an important contribute for the knowledge of the spatial activity of the fishing fleets, allowing for an improved management of commercial fisheries. This is even more relevant for fishing activities carried out in large EEZs or at the high seas where available data is insufficient to support evidence-based management measures towards sustainable fisheries. This paper summarizes the results obtained from mapping the spatiotemporal dynamics of two Portuguese commercial fleets targeting highly migratory pelagic species in the Northeast Atlantic between 2012 and 2018. The results show a clearer and more accurate global picture of the seasonal and spatial pressure footprint exerted by these open-sea fisheries.