A low-cost satellite system may hold the answers for real-time monitoring of fishing vessels using synthetic-aperture radar (SAR).
Illegal fishing has always been difficult to monitor and the prospect of monitoring all the world’s fishing vessels in realtime has always seemed impossible yet we are one step closer thanks to the use of “minibar-sized satellites” which are equipped with synthetic-aperture radar (SAR).
In theory all ships over 300 gross tons are required to use Automatic Identification Systems or AIS to show there whereabouts. The problem is that it is possible to turn these systems off which is often done to avoid being detected during illicit fishing activities. These ships are known as ‘dark ships’. In December, Capella will be launching a constellation of 36 of these satellites, which are a 20th of the weight of there predecessors and therefore easier and cheaper to launch.
Whilst the radar from these satellites doesn’t provide the same clear picture that optical satellites produce, it can detect boats against the sea and when compared with AIS data can show illegal fishing. In an important bonus of these satellites is that they work in any weather including at night and whilst clouds are present which prevents optical satellites from taking images.
