Canada is taking to space in the fight against illegal fishing Photo: MDA.Space April 22, 2021 Illegal, unreported and unregistered fishing vessels are about to be caught: Fisheries and Oceans Canada will employ advanced satellite technology to detect and track illegal fishing ships, known as “dark vessels.” Dark vessels cost the global economy up to $30 billion a year — and that’s the conservative estimate. They avoid detection by switching off their transponders and “going dark,” stealthily slipping by coastguards and maritime patrols. According to Sean Wheeler, senior programme officer at the Fisheries and Oceans international program, these losses have the potential to destabilize governments, cause significant environmental damage and harm food stability in developing nations.