The upcoming UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development is a decade of ocean data. With growing anthropogenic uses and pressures on an ocean under a changing climate, observing, evaluating, and managing the ocean is increasingly important. As we are moving towards 30% ocean area protected by 2030, marine conservation and human uses need to be embedded in comprehensive, adaptive spatial management based on robust, inclusive, and accessible data to ensure meaningful outcomes.

In collaboration with Global Fishing Watch and further partners around the globe I am working to apply big data in the context of marine spatial planning and conservation. My research includes analyses of human pressures on the ocean such as fishing, shipping and underwater noise using satellite vessel tracking data, as well as the role of environmental and oceanographic parameters and climate change for conservation measures such as the design of marine protected areas and integrated maritime management. This work supports the current development of a novel, freely available online platform and database including integrated analysis tools to facilitate dynamic marine spatial planning around the globe.