Supporting fisheries’ resources using Earth Observation | Kwame Adu Agyekum | TEDxRheinMainSalon

so growing up in Accra Ghana my first

so growing up in Accra Ghana my first encounter with a fisherman was somewhere

encounter with a fisherman was somewhere

encounter with a fisherman was somewhere in the 90s as a child then a boy I was

in the 90s as a child then a boy I was

in the 90s as a child then a boy I was advised you know to spend my time

advised you know to spend my time

advised you know to spend my time reading so I spent a little time in the

reading so I spent a little time in the

reading so I spent a little time in the library good library was a bit close to

library good library was a bit close to

library good library was a bit close to the ocean so anytime I go to the library

the ocean so anytime I go to the library

the ocean so anytime I go to the library I take a quick dash to the beach one to

I take a quick dash to the beach one to

I take a quick dash to the beach one to play with my friends was a sighting so

play with my friends was a sighting so

play with my friends was a sighting so back at the beach we would wait and the

back at the beach we would wait and the

back at the beach we would wait and the ebb and flow of the tide we would play

ebb and flow of the tide we would play

ebb and flow of the tide we would play soccer play with some heels jump around

soccer play with some heels jump around

soccer play with some heels jump around get ourselves wet and we had fun you

get ourselves wet and we had fun you

get ourselves wet and we had fun you know it was it was amazing but that

know it was it was amazing but that

know it was it was amazing but that wasn’t the only motivation for going out

wasn’t the only motivation for going out

wasn’t the only motivation for going out there to the beach out of the beach we

there to the beach out of the beach we

there to the beach out of the beach we will help fishermen pulling the catch

will help fishermen pulling the catch

will help fishermen pulling the catch for the day and after doing all of that

for the day and after doing all of that

for the day and after doing all of that we were rewarded for our efforts we were

we were rewarded for our efforts we were

we were rewarded for our efforts we were given fish and was like food on the

given fish and was like food on the

given fish and was like food on the table we came home and joy that you know

table we came home and joy that you know

table we came home and joy that you know Friday and all of that but over time

Friday and all of that but over time

Friday and all of that but over time this interesting see well you see

this interesting see well you see

this interesting see well you see fishermen happily paddle India thrilled

fishermen happily paddle India thrilled

fishermen happily paddle India thrilled canoes on the crest of those tommy waves

canoes on the crest of those tommy waves

canoes on the crest of those tommy waves and all of that

and all of that

and all of that it’s it’s slowly disappearing I mean you

it’s it’s slowly disappearing I mean you

it’s it’s slowly disappearing I mean you go out that you see a lot of women with

go out that you see a lot of women with

go out that you see a lot of women with pants

pants

pants shouting trading and fish but you don’t

shouting trading and fish but you don’t

shouting trading and fish but you don’t seem to see that anymore the situation

seem to see that anymore the situation

seem to see that anymore the situation is a bit bleak so daughter DeLong

is a bit bleak so daughter DeLong

is a bit bleak so daughter DeLong Ghana’s coastline there are about 300

Ghana’s coastline there are about 300

Ghana’s coastline there are about 300 London beaches so we have about 500

London beaches so we have about 500

London beaches so we have about 500 kilometres of coastline right and within

kilometres of coastline right and within

kilometres of coastline right and within the stretch of space you have about 300

the stretch of space you have about 300

the stretch of space you have about 300 London beaches and it was full of

London beaches and it was full of

London beaches and it was full of activity but that is not a picture

activity but that is not a picture

activity but that is not a picture anymore if you go out there these are

anymore if you go out there these are

anymore if you go out there these are the sort of things you would see broken

the sort of things you would see broken

the sort of things you would see broken down to news week ones

down to news week ones

down to news week ones the beaches are isolated so I’m I guess

the beaches are isolated so I’m I guess

the beaches are isolated so I’m I guess most of

most of

most of you asking yourself what had changed

this is the reason we have a depleted

this is the reason we have a depleted resources out there there are huge

resources out there there are huge

resources out there there are huge industrial boots from different parts of

industrial boots from different parts of

industrial boots from different parts of the world they can easily and freely

the world they can easily and freely

the world they can easily and freely move into our maritime space and scoop

move into our maritime space and scoop

move into our maritime space and scoop up scoop out all our fishes

unfortunately artisan artisanal

unfortunately artisan artisanal fishermen cannot compete like you saw

fishermen cannot compete like you saw

fishermen cannot compete like you saw most of them already have outboard

most of them already have outboard

most of them already have outboard motors they can’t go far they can’t

motors they can’t go far they can’t

motors they can’t go far they can’t speed you know but these guys have got

speed you know but these guys have got

speed you know but these guys have got huge engines and they can do whatever

huge engines and they can do whatever

huge engines and they can do whatever they want they have huge Nets sometimes

they want they have huge Nets sometimes

they want they have huge Nets sometimes as big as the football field and it has

as big as the football field and it has

as big as the football field and it has huge ever stated effects I mean so I I

huge ever stated effects I mean so I I

huge ever stated effects I mean so I I get to work with fishermen a lot and

get to work with fishermen a lot and

get to work with fishermen a lot and when I have to chat with them they tell

when I have to chat with them they tell

when I have to chat with them they tell you the sort of problems they go through

you the sort of problems they go through

you the sort of problems they go through now they are not catching fishes there

now they are not catching fishes there

now they are not catching fishes there is environmental degradation a lot of

is environmental degradation a lot of

is environmental degradation a lot of plastics in our ocean so the the trulia

plastics in our ocean so the the trulia

plastics in our ocean so the the trulia nets out indeed they catch nothin except

nets out indeed they catch nothin except

nets out indeed they catch nothin except polythene bags become home with nothing

polythene bags become home with nothing

polythene bags become home with nothing how did they feed their kids how do they

how did they feed their kids how do they

how did they feed their kids how do they buy them books for school so this this

buy them books for school so this this

buy them books for school so this this this has its get it gets a bit

this has its get it gets a bit

this has its get it gets a bit personally I get pissed not with that I

personally I get pissed not with that I

personally I get pissed not with that I mean so that was one of the motivations

mean so that was one of the motivations

mean so that was one of the motivations for even getting into marine science I

for even getting into marine science I

for even getting into marine science I mean yeah I said hey how can you help

mean yeah I said hey how can you help

mean yeah I said hey how can you help change lives improve lives put food on

change lives improve lives put food on

change lives improve lives put food on the table so that was my reason for

the table so that was my reason for

the table so that was my reason for getting into that so I’m not I’m not

getting into that so I’m not I’m not

getting into that so I’m not I’m not also saying our governments are not

also saying our governments are not

also saying our governments are not doing anything about it they are trying

doing anything about it they are trying

doing anything about it they are trying but unfortunately from a developing

but unfortunately from a developing

but unfortunately from a developing country we don’t have all the resources

country we don’t have all the resources

country we don’t have all the resources you don’t have all the expertise we

you don’t have all the expertise we

you don’t have all the expertise we don’t have all the equipment to change

don’t have all the equipment to change

don’t have all the equipment to change these boats I mean to to look at to be

these boats I mean to to look at to be

these boats I mean to to look at to be able to protect the ocean you need to

able to protect the ocean you need to

able to protect the ocean you need to have very fast boats but one there’s one

have very fast boats but one there’s one

have very fast boats but one there’s one limitation and it’s the vastness of the

limitation and it’s the vastness of the

limitation and it’s the vastness of the ocean I mean you have a huge ocean out

ocean I mean you have a huge ocean out

ocean I mean you have a huge ocean out there you don’t have enough boats and

there you don’t have enough boats and

there you don’t have enough boats and you can’t go everywhere right

you can’t go everywhere right

you can’t go everywhere right so fish’s managers I bet handicapped

so fish’s managers I bet handicapped

so fish’s managers I bet handicapped they said back are the offices in the

they said back are the offices in the

they said back are the offices in the monitoring and control and surveillance

monitoring and control and surveillance

monitoring and control and surveillance units and don’t know where to send out

units and don’t know where to send out

units and don’t know where to send out these speedboats it becomes a challenge

these speedboats it becomes a challenge

these speedboats it becomes a challenge so one of our reasons for getting into

so one of our reasons for getting into

so one of our reasons for getting into all of this is to take advantage of hot

all of this is to take advantage of hot

all of this is to take advantage of hot remote sensing and satellite provides

remote sensing and satellite provides

remote sensing and satellite provides now it’s been good news all this week

now it’s been good news all this week

now it’s been good news all this week gladly we have Sentinel 3 in space so we

gladly we have Sentinel 3 in space so we

gladly we have Sentinel 3 in space so we have an extra eye at sea looking at the

have an extra eye at sea looking at the

have an extra eye at sea looking at the ocean again from from Ghana you need to

ocean again from from Ghana you need to

ocean again from from Ghana you need to understand how processes within the

understand how processes within the

understand how processes within the ocean impact or drive fetches right if

ocean impact or drive fetches right if

ocean impact or drive fetches right if you don’t have research vessels there’s

you don’t have research vessels there’s

you don’t have research vessels there’s little we can do but thanks to

little we can do but thanks to

little we can do but thanks to satellites we can monitor features

satellites we can monitor features

satellites we can monitor features within the ocean processes within the

within the ocean processes within the

within the ocean processes within the ocean that drive phase distribution you

ocean that drive phase distribution you

ocean that drive phase distribution you can look up upwelling features you can

can look up upwelling features you can

can look up upwelling features you can track currents you can look at a front

track currents you can look at a front

track currents you can look at a front and so forth and think of all of these

and so forth and think of all of these

and so forth and think of all of these as the huge restaurants within the ocean

as the huge restaurants within the ocean

as the huge restaurants within the ocean so that is where all these fishes are

so that is where all these fishes are

so that is where all these fishes are gates to feed so it’s very simple if you

gates to feed so it’s very simple if you

gates to feed so it’s very simple if you want to police your waters you should be

want to police your waters you should be

want to police your waters you should be looking at these sort of maps and you

looking at these sort of maps and you

looking at these sort of maps and you have a fair idea where you want to one

have a fair idea where you want to one

have a fair idea where you want to one maybe send out your navies to police

maybe send out your navies to police

maybe send out your navies to police those waters so that is what I’m going

those waters so that is what I’m going

those waters so that is what I’m going to talk about to do this properly you

to talk about to do this properly you

to talk about to do this properly you would need to have a touch data but that

would need to have a touch data but that

would need to have a touch data but that is another challenge right so ok this is

is another challenge right so ok this is

is another challenge right so ok this is what you would expect you respect that

what you would expect you respect that

what you would expect you respect that fishermen come and tell you where they

fishermen come and tell you where they

fishermen come and tell you where they had caught fish a B and C I had caught

had caught fish a B and C I had caught

had caught fish a B and C I had caught this number of quantities quantities and

this number of quantities quantities and

this number of quantities quantities and so forth but unfortunately we are unable

so forth but unfortunately we are unable

so forth but unfortunately we are unable to get that sort of information to

to get that sort of information to

to get that sort of information to develop tools and materials that can

develop tools and materials that can

develop tools and materials that can help us know where our productive

help us know where our productive

help us know where our productive regions are so until recently we started

regions are so until recently we started

regions are so until recently we started using a is data when I say a is data

using a is data when I say a is data

using a is data when I say a is data I mean vessels or most classes of

I mean vessels or most classes of

I mean vessels or most classes of vessels are supposed to have beacons on

vessels are supposed to have beacons on

vessels are supposed to have beacons on them so like you can track your cars you

them so like you can track your cars you

them so like you can track your cars you can track where fishing boats go most

can track where fishing boats go most

can track where fishing boats go most industrial fishing vessels do have that

industrial fishing vessels do have that

industrial fishing vessels do have that but some industrial vessels or some of

but some industrial vessels or some of

but some industrial vessels or some of the artisanal vessels don’t have it you

the artisanal vessels don’t have it you

the artisanal vessels don’t have it you can see that orange device there is a

can see that orange device there is a

can see that orange device there is a beacon we put it at me doing that you

beacon we put it at me doing that you

beacon we put it at me doing that you you put it on on the boat and you can

you put it on on the boat and you can

you put it on on the boat and you can know wherever they go

know wherever they go

know wherever they go it also has other features for safety at

it also has other features for safety at

it also has other features for safety at sea there’s a button you push it and if

sea there’s a button you push it and if

sea there’s a button you push it and if the fisherman is in distress other

the fisherman is in distress other

the fisherman is in distress other vessels nearby can get some signal our

vessels nearby can get some signal our

vessels nearby can get some signal our signal to know that yes there’s

signal to know that yes there’s

signal to know that yes there’s something nearby we can go help so using

something nearby we can go help so using

something nearby we can go help so using this information we are able to look at

this information we are able to look at

this information we are able to look at the trajectories of vessels I am Not

the trajectories of vessels I am Not

the trajectories of vessels I am Not sure in the artists on our ones these

sure in the artists on our ones these

sure in the artists on our ones these are for industrial fishing fleets on the

are for industrial fishing fleets on the

are for industrial fishing fleets on the average we have about that say 400 in in

average we have about that say 400 in in

average we have about that say 400 in in a day fishing vessels are prison within

a day fishing vessels are prison within

a day fishing vessels are prison within that space it’s in the society you sit

that space it’s in the society you sit

that space it’s in the society you sit at your desktop and you have a fair idea

at your desktop and you have a fair idea

at your desktop and you have a fair idea what has happened within your maritime

what has happened within your maritime

what has happened within your maritime space now you can see the vessels moving

space now you can see the vessels moving

space now you can see the vessels moving so like I had indicated earlier to be

so like I had indicated earlier to be

so like I had indicated earlier to be able to know where fishermen go to fish

able to know where fishermen go to fish

able to know where fishermen go to fish I need to have touch data it is country

I need to have touch data it is country

I need to have touch data it is country sometimes not available but fishing

sometimes not available but fishing

sometimes not available but fishing vessels do three things

vessels do three things

vessels do three things they are ear at port waiting to go to

they are ear at port waiting to go to

they are ear at port waiting to go to sea or the speed to sea and when they

sea or the speed to sea and when they

sea or the speed to sea and when they get to fishing grounds they slow down so

get to fishing grounds they slow down so

get to fishing grounds they slow down so when you do a plot of their trajectories

when you do a plot of their trajectories

when you do a plot of their trajectories you can discriminate between when they

you can discriminate between when they

you can discriminate between when they are speeding to fishing grounds and when

are speeding to fishing grounds and when

are speeding to fishing grounds and when they are efficient so you have a speed

they are efficient so you have a speed

they are efficient so you have a speed range very simple when you then take the

range very simple when you then take the

range very simple when you then take the attack trajectories for a day it takes

attack trajectories for a day it takes

attack trajectories for a day it takes sunlight data meketa products you

sunlight data meketa products you

sunlight data meketa products you overlay them your over here you can see

overlay them your over here you can see

overlay them your over here you can see black dots the black dots are the

black dots the black dots are the

black dots the black dots are the general trajectory but the sea on ones

general trajectory but the sea on ones

general trajectory but the sea on ones are areas that we think they might have

are areas that we think they might have

are areas that we think they might have slowed down to face we can easily

slowed down to face we can easily

slowed down to face we can easily extract those environmental parameters

extract those environmental parameters

extract those environmental parameters there and we have a he

there and we have a he

there and we have a he you dataset to to build models so this

you dataset to to build models so this

you dataset to to build models so this is one example of a model that we have

is one example of a model that we have

is one example of a model that we have built what this Buddha does is it looks

built what this Buddha does is it looks

built what this Buddha does is it looks at it takes presence and absence data so

at it takes presence and absence data so

at it takes presence and absence data so I’m gonna able to know how many fish you

I’m gonna able to know how many fish you

I’m gonna able to know how many fish you had caught but I know that you might

had caught but I know that you might

had caught but I know that you might have fish within this space or you did

have fish within this space or you did

have fish within this space or you did not fish so we build a presence and

not fish so we build a presence and

not fish so we build a presence and absence data class environmental data

absence data class environmental data

absence data class environmental data and we are able to model and say within

and we are able to model and say within

and we are able to model and say within this range of let’s say sea surface

this range of let’s say sea surface

this range of let’s say sea surface temperature we think fishes aggregated

temperature we think fishes aggregated

temperature we think fishes aggregated within the that area within this range

within the that area within this range

within the that area within this range of sea surface height fishes prefer that

of sea surface height fishes prefer that

of sea surface height fishes prefer that environment

environment

environment now the model puts weight on these

now the model puts weight on these

now the model puts weight on these values and they tell you where your

values and they tell you where your

values and they tell you where your fishing grounds are so on my right that

fishing grounds are so on my right that

fishing grounds are so on my right that should be your left you can see a map

should be your left you can see a map

should be your left you can see a map that map it tells you for a particular

that map it tells you for a particular

that map it tells you for a particular day where your fishing grounds are the

day where your fishing grounds are the

day where your fishing grounds are the exciting thing about this is that we we

exciting thing about this is that we we

exciting thing about this is that we we are able to have access to forecast data

are able to have access to forecast data

are able to have access to forecast data ten days ahead

ten days ahead

ten days ahead so we are able to project 10 days ahead

so we are able to project 10 days ahead

so we are able to project 10 days ahead where we think the ocean will be

where we think the ocean will be

where we think the ocean will be productive illegal fashion are likely to

productive illegal fashion are likely to

productive illegal fashion are likely to go to happen there because and this is

go to happen there because and this is

go to happen there because and this is what we have come to realize these

what we have come to realize these

what we have come to realize these industrial fishing vessels do pay money

industrial fishing vessels do pay money

industrial fishing vessels do pay money to companies to provide them some

to companies to provide them some

to companies to provide them some satellite data so they do have a fair

satellite data so they do have a fair

satellite data so they do have a fair idea beforehand where to go

idea beforehand where to go

idea beforehand where to go money just sit in a in our offices and

money just sit in a in our offices and

money just sit in a in our offices and they are unable to do that but thanks to

they are unable to do that but thanks to

they are unable to do that but thanks to what we do at the University we can make

what we do at the University we can make

what we do at the University we can make this sort of information available to

this sort of information available to

this sort of information available to our fishermen so how useful is this data

our fishermen so how useful is this data

our fishermen so how useful is this data set this comes in two formats a JPEG

set this comes in two formats a JPEG

set this comes in two formats a JPEG just an image like this and a tip a tiff

just an image like this and a tip a tiff

just an image like this and a tip a tiff file is your reference so any one who

file is your reference so any one who

file is your reference so any one who wants to build on that can just load it

wants to build on that can just load it

wants to build on that can just load it up in a GIS platform and do a bit more

up in a GIS platform and do a bit more

up in a GIS platform and do a bit more the other exciting thing about this sort

the other exciting thing about this sort

the other exciting thing about this sort of information is that Cousteau might

of information is that Cousteau might

of information is that Cousteau might have spoken about MPs and all of that

have spoken about MPs and all of that

have spoken about MPs and all of that Eve

Eve

Eve we don’t have any MPs in most part of

we don’t have any MPs in most part of

we don’t have any MPs in most part of West Africa but in the future that’s

West Africa but in the future that’s

West Africa but in the future that’s something I’m gonna work on this becomes

something I’m gonna work on this becomes

something I’m gonna work on this becomes very very useful because when you

very very useful because when you

very very useful because when you accumulate a lot of data and do and you

accumulate a lot of data and do and you

accumulate a lot of data and do and you run some analytics on them you can

run some analytics on them you can

run some analytics on them you can easily map out areas that you think are

easily map out areas that you think are

easily map out areas that you think are very productive fishermen often go there

very productive fishermen often go there

very productive fishermen often go there to fish and that perhaps you need to do

to fish and that perhaps you need to do

to fish and that perhaps you need to do offense it right so slowly we have

offense it right so slowly we have

offense it right so slowly we have started with nothing to develop stuff

started with nothing to develop stuff

started with nothing to develop stuff like this that we can really make

like this that we can really make

like this that we can really make available to fisheries managers and they

available to fisheries managers and they

available to fisheries managers and they are why they are using and happily thank

are why they are using and happily thank

are why they are using and happily thank you very much

you very much

you very much [Applause]