Fisheries are at a turning point.
From climate change and biodiversity loss to illegal fishing and growing demands for transparency, the sector is under immense pressure.

Yet fisheries are also one of the most data-poor sectors of the ocean economy.

In this episode of BlueTech Around the World, we explore how digital technologies, from satellites and connectivity to AI and data platforms, are reshaping fisheries management, from small-scale fishers to national authorities.

My guest, Hervé Galabert, Director of Sustainable Fisheries Applications at CLS, takes us on a journey from space to fishing boats, showing how satellite-based Earth observation, vessel tracking, and data integration are becoming essential tools to build more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive fisheries.

From making small-scale fishers visible, to fighting illegal fishing, improving safety at sea, reducing ghost gear pollution, and supporting better decision-making, this conversation reveals how technology becomes powerful only when it serves people and ecosystems.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• What “digitalization of fisheries” really means  and how it differs from digital transformation
• How satellites collect and transmit data on vessel activity, ocean conditions and risks
• AIS, VMS, SAR: understanding the key tracking technologies used at sea
• Why traditional monitoring is no longer enough in a changing ocean
• How digital tools help small-scale fishers become visible and included in decision-making
• Real-world success stories: safety at sea, offshore wind & fisheries coexistence
• How satellite data and AI are changing the fight against IUU fishing
• What “dark vessels” are  and how they can be detected
• How technology helps track and reduce ghost gear and marine pollution
• Who pays for digital fisheries tools and how solutions are made more affordable
• The role of open data (Copernicus) in modern fisheries management
• What’s next for digital fisheries: AI, IoT, connectivity  and human intelligence
• Hervé’s advice for young innovators in fisheries, blue tech and ocean conservation

Key question

How can digital technologies, from space-based observation to real-time data, help fisheries remain productive, fair, and sustainable in a rapidly changing ocean?

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