The Ocean in Motion
March 13, 2024
An Ocean in Distress
March 13, 2024

Balancing
Harvest

Seaweed farms in the South Jeolla Province, South Korea

This image, acquired on 28 December 2020 by one of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites, shows numerous seaweed farms in the South Jeolla Province, South Korea. Seaweed aquaculture is common along the coast of South Jeolla Province: it produces more than 80 per cent of the seaweed farmed in South Korea. In comparison to other types of food production, seaweed farming has a light environmental footprint because it does not require freshwater or fertiliser.

© Sentinel-2, Copernicus

TRAFFIC

Sustainable fishing means harvesting fish without depleting stocks or harming the environment. Satellites provide information on ocean conditions and fishing activities, helping to enforce regulations and quotas.

The map shows individual vessels detected by Sentinel-1 during 2017–2021, matched to known vessel positions (blue) from AIS broadcasts and unmatched vessels (orange). The vessels were classified as fishing or non-fishing using a deep-learning model. National exclusive economic zones have been overlaid.

© ESA (data source: Paolo et al., 2024/Global Fishing Watch)

Mathieu Daiwa

Fisher

Cotonou, Benin

In Cotonou, the independent fisher Mathieu Daiwa tells us of changes to the ocean that he has witnessed. A biologist, oceanographer, and director of the Benin Institute for Halieutic and Oceanographic Research, Zacharie Sohou explains how satellite data is used in Benin to monitor fishing and protect marine resources.
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