Mapping nearly a century and a half of global marine fishing: 1869–2015

• Published in: Marine policy Vol. 93; pp. 171 - 177
• Main Authors: Watson, Reg A., Tidd, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2018
• Subjects: Discards; Global fishing; Historical fishing; IUU; Mapping; IUU; Database; Historical fishing; Discards; Mapping; Global fishing
• ISSN: 0308-597X; 1872-9460
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2018.04.023

Understanding global fisheries patterns contributes significantly to their management. By combining harmonized unmapped data sources with maps from satellite tracking data, regional tuna management organisations, the ranges of fished taxa, the access of fleets and the logistics of associated fishing gears the expansion and intensification of marine fisheries for nearly a century and half (1869–2015) is illustrated. Estimates of industrial, non-industrial reported, illegal/unreported (IUU) and discards reveal changes in country dominance, catch composition and fishing gear use. Catch of industrial and non-industrial marine fishing by year, fishing country, taxa and gear by 30-min spatial cell broken to reported, IUU and discards is available. Results show a historical increase in bottom trawl with corresponding reduction in the landings from seines. Though diverse, global landings are now dominated by demersal and small pelagic species. [Display omitted] •Shows changes in global fishing patterns for nearly a century and a half (1869–2015).•Separates industrial from non-industrial fishing and incorporates associated gear logistics.•Estimates illegal and unreported, as well as associated discards.•Shows changes in country dominance in global fishing.•Reveals trends in the global catch composition and the associated fishing gear use.•Improves and extends previous mapping with vessel tracking satellite data and spatial tuna data from regional management organisations with ranges of fished species and maps of fleet access.•Describes publically accessible databases.