Human activity is powering ‘a new industrial revolution’ at sea, say experts

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Guardian or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: A groundbreaking study by Global Fishing Watch, using AI and satellite technology, has created the first global map of industrial ocean use 
• The study, published in Nature, reveals that 75% of the world's industrial fishing vessels, mostly in Africa and South Asia, operate without public tracking 
•  It also indicates significant growth in offshore structures, especially wind turbines, which surpassed oil structures in 2021

🔭 The context: The research, conducted between 2017 and 2021, showed that there was a 12% global decrease in fishing due to the Covid pandemic 
•  However, it highlighted a rapid increase in offshore structures, with China's offshore wind energy growing ninefold 
•  The study also uncovers illegal activities, such as "dark" fishing vessels in protected areas like the Great Barrier Reef and the Galápagos Islands

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: This study sheds light on the hidden industrialization of oceans, raising concerns about its impact on marine ecosystems 
•  The detection of "dark" vessels in critical marine reserves points to potential illegal fishing and environmental threats 
•  The growth in offshore wind energy, while beneficial for renewable energy, also poses new challenges for marine conservation

⏭️ What's next: The data and mapping technology from this study will be openly available, heralding a new era in ocean management and transparency 
•  This could aid in monitoring greenhouse gas emissions at sea and tracking marine degradation due to activities like oil pollution

💬 One quote: "A new industrial revolution has been emerging in our seas undetected – until now," (David Kroodsma, the director of research and innovation at GFW)

Click for more news covering the latest on energy