Recreational and commercial fishing in The Bahamas sustains over 25,000 jobs and generates over $1 billion annually in economic activity, equivalent to roughly 20% of the country’s GDP. However, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in The Bahamas is threatening the long-term sustainability of their exclusive economic zone (EEZ). In fact, it is estimated that nearly 33% of all catch in The Bahamas falls under IUU fishing, especially affecting the spiny lobster and queen conch fisheries. IUU fishing is committed by both domestic and foreign vessels, including those from the United States and the Dominican Republic.
IUU fishing generally contributes to overfishing, accelerates marine ecosystem degradation, reduces profits for legitimate fishers, and exacerbates food insecurity of nearby communities by taking valuable resources out of local markets. Globally, illegal and unreported fishing activities alone generate between $15.5 and $36.4 billion in illicit profits, depriving governments of significant tax revenue.
In The Bahamas, these challenges are further compounded by several issues, such as the country’s expansive and geographically dispersed marine territory—encompassing over 235,000 square miles and surrounding 700 islands—as well as limited capacity of governmental agencies and insufficient data about catch, vessel activity, and ecosystem health. Furthermore, global environmental threats, including warming waters, declining fish populations, and deteriorating coral reef health are already affecting The Bahamas and contributing to the strain on the nation’s fisheries.
However, emerging technology tools offer a promising pathway for fishery managers to combat IUU fishing, strengthen fisheries management, and protect the health of fisheries. A variety of tools exist. For example, AI-based satellite detection platforms can help fisheries managers remotely monitor marine territory and detect illegal activity, such as foreign vessels in the country’s EEZ or dark vessels engaging in illegal transshipments. Vessel monitoring systems (VMS), which include physical tracking devices on vessels, can allow fisheries managers to measure and analyze fishing effort and trends in the fishery, discourage entries into marine protected areas (MPAs), distinguish between domestic and foreign vessels, and keep fishers safe by pairing distress buttons with precise location data. A variety of existing data tools can also provide fisheries managers with key ecological insights, from detecting the spread of coral disease to understanding the health of various fish stocks.
In order to advance practical solutions that meet the country’s needs, ELI has engaged with governmental agencies in The Bahamas and various stakeholder groups. Through in-depth conversations, we have gained a better understanding of the fisheries management landscape in the country: the types of technology being used, the ways in which they are used, practical constraints that exist, current needs, and the most pressing areas that would benefit from increased technology.
As part of our engagement in The Bahamas, we held an in-person workshop in Nassau in March 2025, bringing together a diverse group of Bahamian governmental agencies, fisher organizations, local and international NGOs, and technology providers and users for a day of presentations and discussions on Advancing Fisheries Management in The Bahamas through Data Tools and Technology. The first session focused on technology platforms designed to combat IUU fishing—many of which are free—with presentations from Global Fishing Watch (GFW), Allen Institute for AI, Bahamas Wildlife Enforcement Network, and WildAid’s Marine Program. The second session covered electronic monitoring—including electronic reporting logs, VMS, and seafood traceability tools—with presentations from ELI, The Nature Conservancy, Blue Shell Productions (Barbados), Remora, Oyster Recovery Partnership, Woods Hole Group/CLS, Abalobi, and the Lambert’s Bay Fishing Community (South Africa). The third and final session centered around technology to evaluate ecosystem health, with presentations from the Perry Institute for Marine Science and Global Fishing Watch. Overall, participants agreed that many of the tools discussed would benefit domestic fisheries management, and that some—such as electronic reporting and satellite detection tools—may be feasible in the near-term. For a deeper dive into the workshop and takeaways, see the full workshop report here.
As ELI continues working with government agencies and stakeholders in The Bahamas, we are inspired by a shared commitment to strengthen fisheries management and explore how emerging technology solutions can best support their needs.
The work of ELI's Ocean program to strengthen fisheries management in The Bahamas builds on decades of work to support improved ocean management around the world. Recently, ELI has been working with stakeholders in the Caribbean region to explore how these technology tools can best serve their needs. Notably, ELI held a virtual convening in March 2024 for stakeholders from over 15 countries to discuss the importance of data tools and technology for fisheries management in the Caribbean (see the takeaways here).
- Oceans and Coasts