Unregulated Squid Fishing in the Northwest Indian Ocean

We have followed the rapid expansion of this fleet through satellite data and on-the-ground observations.

Satellite imagery has become one of the most powerful tools for exposing what is happening at sea. Since the launch of the NOAA–NASA Suomi NPP satellite, night-time light data has been freely available and is now widely used to track activity that would otherwise remain invisible. What we see from space confirms what we witness in the field.

In the northwest Indian Ocean, these vessels are clearly visible at night. Using high-intensity lights, squid fishing boats illuminate the ocean surface to attract their catch—often with dozens, sometimes hundreds, of lamps per vessel. From above, this creates dense clusters of bright points across the Arabian Sea, marking the exact locations of industrial fishing activity. From space, the scale is impossible to ignore—yet on the water, it remains largely unchecked.

When this data is combined with vessel tracking systems and fishing records, it reveals patterns of fishing that are not only largely unregulated, but also potentially unsustainable. According to the FAO, around 30% of assessed fish stocks in the Indian Ocean are already being fished beyond sustainable limits. What we are seeing in this fishery reflects that wider pressure—an industry expanding faster than it is being understood or managed.

In just a few years, vessel numbers have surged dramatically, and fishing seasons have extended further and further. At the same time, the methods used—powerful light attraction and increasingly non-selective gear—are placing immense pressure not only on squid populations, but on entire marine ecosystems. Species such as tuna, sharks, and whales are affected, and the balance of the ocean is being pushed to its limits.

But this is not just an environmental issue. We are seeing firsthand how coastal communities are being impacted. Local fishers are facing declining catches and growing economic pressure, while competing with industrial fleets they cannot match. This imbalance is deeply concerning, and it reinforces why this issue cannot be ignored.