Harnessing Technology to Combat Illegal Fishing and Protect Our Oceans
In briefAI summary — tap to read
Meaghan Brosnan from Wild Aid and Namrata Kolla from the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence discuss how technology and nonprofit partnerships combat illegal fishing, which accounts for one in five pounds of fish caught globally. The presentation highlights a successful January 2025 case in Panama where 16 illegal fishing vessels were arrested using AI-powered satellite data, demonstrating how coordinated efforts between governments, nonprofits, and technology can protect ocean ecosystems.
Key takeaways
- Illegal fishing generates over $23 billion annually in black market sales and threatens ocean health, with one-quarter of marine mammal species at risk of extinction.
- Effective marine protection requires five integrated system components: policies with consequences, long-term financing, training and mentorship, community engagement, and surveillance technology like satellites and AI.
- The Allen Institute's Skylight platform uses satellite imagery and vessel tracking data to identify illegal fishing activity, but technology alone is insufficient without years of relationship-building, training, and government partnership.
- Wild Aid's enforcement program combines 200+ years of collective law enforcement expertise with behavior change campaigns to support government partners in designing and implementing complete, sustainable protection systems.
- Successful conservation requires transnational cooperation, as illegal fishing is a global problem; the Eastern Tropical Pacific nations demonstrate this through coordinated marine protected areas and cross-border enforcement.
About Meaghan Brosnan and Namrata KollaMeaghan Brosnan is a former U.S. Coast Guard commander who leads Wild Aid's globally recognized marine enforcement program. Namrata Kolla is a data scientist at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence who directs the Skylight program, which uses satellite data and machine learning to detect illegal fishing.
AI-generated from the meeting recording — AI can make mistakes, so check the recording for anything important.
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Program: Harnessing Technology to Combat Illegal Fishing and Protect Our Oceans
Speaker: Meaghan Brosnan and Namrata Kolla
We bring you a new program every week on innovation, entrepreneurship, and education and how they contribute to service to others.
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing is one of the most pressing threats to our oceans, devastating marine ecosystems and wildlife while undermining the livelihoods of sustainable fishers. For over two decades, WildAid has partnered with local leaders worldwide to improve marine protection and enforcement. In this talk, WildAid CEO Meaghan Brosnan and Skylight Head Namrata Kolla will explore how cutting-edge AI technology is transforming the fight against IUU fishing. Learn how Skylight’s AI-powered vessel detection platform is helping governments take decisive action—like the recent seizure of six illegal longliners in Panama—and discover what’s next for the future of ocean protection.
Meaghan Brosnan is a global expert in marine enforcement with more than two decades of experience combating illegal fishing and supporting communities in sustainably managing marine protected areas. A retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander, she spent two decades in service, including four years at sea enforcing fisheries law. Meaghan joined WildAid in 2017 as Marine Program Director and became CEO in 2024, following the organization's receipt of Prince William's Earthshot Prize in the "Revive Our Oceans" category.
Namrata Kolla (Nam) leads the Skylight program at Ai2 (Allen Institute for AI). She has held various positions in the conservation space for over ten years, including as Data Scientist for the Mayor of Seattle, as Research Consultant for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and in various roles at The Nature Conservancy. She has a Master's in Public Administration from the University of Washington, with a focus on the application of data science to improve public service.
Members and guests, please welcome Meaghan Brosnan and Nam Kolla!
To learn more, go to:
Learn about WildAid's marine program:
https://marine.wildaid.org/
More about Skylight's technology:
https://allenai.org/skylight
Mongabay's coverage of Panama's momentous seizure: https://news.mongabay.com/2025/03/panama-conducts-large-illegal-fishing-bust-in-protected-pacific-waters/
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