In 2017, an international group of scientists found that almost 80% of albatrosses and other large seabirds chasing fishing boats in the hope of obtaining “free lunch”. As a result, the researchers suggested a better idea: why not use this feature of the behavior of birds to protect nature?
To turn the Albatross Maritime patrol, scientists from the National center for scientific research of France and the University of Liverpool has collected small blocks of solar panels which can be mounted on the back of these sea birds. Inside the unit there are three antennas: the first GPS fixing location, a second radar detection of ships, and a third for data transfer to base.
The unusual composition of the patrol, there are already 169 birds which demonstrated how they can be used to solve an important problem of combating poaching. As you know, all the registered fishing vessels according to the law should have included an automated identification system (AIS), which according to their nationality, location and route. The problem is that not always the owners (for obvious reasons) it will activate.
Map of fishing vessels found by the Albatross: green dots – with the included AIS, red – off
On the other hand, a radar system is always needed to prevent collisions with other vessels – that is off the radar and can be fixed by the forces of bird “patrol”.
Sea birds are able to detect fishing boats at a distance up to 30 km, that allows installed on their backs to tell scientists about the location of the vessel. Further, by reviewing the obtained information with existing database systems and included the AIS, it is possible to make a conclusion about the legality/illegality of fishing operations.
Currently, academics aerial patrol of Albatross for six months already controls a large area of the southern ocean, discovering at the same 353 of the vessel, approximately one third of which were disabled AIS system.
Source — National Centre for Scientific Research