GPS cloning contributes to overfishing

Top 15 Conservation Issues of 2021

Overfishing and bycatch are two major factors that can lead to the collapse of marine species and cause them to become extinct. Researchers are discovering that a contributing element to overfishing and bycatch is GPS spoofing and AIS cloning of marine vessels. When ships are at sea, they transmit their locations and identities through the global navigation satellite system and automatic identification system. Illegal vessels are cloning locations and identities of legal ships in order to trade illegal goods and restrict authorities’ efforts to identify vessels participating in illegal fishing and dredging.