The plan is to use satellites to detect and track so-called 'dark vessels' — ships that have switched off their location transmitters to evade authorities. The Dark Vessel Detection system can be used to find ships that have switched off their AIS (automated information system) transmitters to evade authorities. Wheeler said the strength of the project is the software that pulls multiple types of satellite information into one interface. Wheeler said in the case of international waters, it could fall on the U.S. or Royal Canadian Navy to carry out enforcement. Earlier this year a similar project was kicked off to detect illegal fishing in the Bahamas and Costa Rica.

Source: CBC News February 25, 2021 05:26 UTC