Mark Zimring

The Economist: Illegal Fishing Fleets Plunder the Oceans 

“The world is gradually waking up to the problem of dark fleets operating under cover of night or beyond the arm of the law. However, Mark Zimring of The Nature Conservancy, says that most illegal fishing takes place on licensed fleets. Mr Zimring says the next move is to bring electronic monitoring onto vessels themselves. The Nature Conservancy says it is working with casino-security experts to improve the algorithms. Mr. Zimring notes that these monitoring systems do not sleep or get sick, and cannot be bribed or knocked on the head.”

Bloomberg: How Fish-Recognition Tech Is Assisting Demand for Canned Tuna

“Commercial fishing fleets are facing a jump in demand for canned tuna, but the coronavirus outbreak has prevented industry watchdogs and environmental groups from sending people onto boats to monitor whether the catches are sustainable. Instead, some vessels are installing video cameras, sensors and systems that use algorithms to detect different types of fish and marine life, similar to the way Facebook Inc identifies people tagged in photos, said Mark Zimring, large scale fisheries program director at The Nature Conservancy.”

Great Big Story: Sea Change 

Vacationland partnered with Great Big Story and The Nature Conservancy to create a series of films about the critical need to develop a sustainable seafood supply in the long line Tuna fishing industry in Palau.

Catalyzing the Growth of Electronic Monitoring in Fisheries

In 2018, The Nature Conservancy and CEA Consulting released the report, “Catalyzing the Growth of Electronic Monitoring in Fisheries.” This progress update report revisits the original recommendations, assesses the progress and new innovations that have been made, identifies key remaining barriers, and updates the investment blueprint based on what has changed or been learned over the last year and a half.

FoodTank: On World Oceans Day, Mark Zimring and Niaz Dorry Talk About Building Sustainable Fisheries of All Sizes

Mark Zimring focuses on large-scale fisheries at The Nature Conservancy, where he works to monitor and protect fisheries with a specific emphasis on tuna in the Indian and Pacific oceans. He explains how COVID-19 has disrupted fisheries around the world—and how conservation efforts can come back from the pandemic even stronger than before.