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Global Fishing Watch

Industrial fishing vessel tracks worldwide, rebuilt from satellite signals, showing exactly where the world's fleets have been working.

Opens in a new tab. We do not control this site and it may have changed since we catalogued it.

How to get the most from it

Global Fishing Watch sits in Live Earth Maps under Wander, filed as coffee break.

  • Set aside five to fifteen minutes and give it your proper attention.
  • Use a laptop or desktop computer — we file it as desktop only.
  • It works with the sound off, so it is fine on a train or in a quiet office.
  • No account needed — you can start without signing up.
  • Go in expecting something brainy and clever.

About this category: Live data drawn on a map: storms, earthquakes, lightning, shipping, wildlife. Open one and the planet stops being an abstraction.

Good for

  • Filling a coffee break properly
  • Giving your brain a workout
  • Being impressed by a clever idea
  • A quiet break at your desk
  • Trying it with zero commitment

Global Fishing Watch: quick answers

Is Global Fishing Watch free?

Yes. Global Fishing Watch is free to use and needs no account.

Do I need an account to use Global Fishing Watch?

No. You can use Global Fishing Watch without signing up for anything.

Does Global Fishing Watch work on a phone?

Not well. We file Global Fishing Watch as desktop only, so open it on a laptop or desktop computer.

Is Global Fishing Watch safe for work?

Yes, we file it as safe for work. It also works muted.

How long does Global Fishing Watch take?

We file it as "Coffee break": Five to fifteen minutes of proper attention.

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  • Active fire and thermal anomaly detections from NASA satellites, updated within hours of each pass and quietly sobering at continental zoom.

  • The full NASA satellite archive as daily global mosaics, with a date slider you can drag back two decades to watch ice, dust and smoke move.

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