# Satellite mapping reveals extensive industrial activity at sea

*PRI Rank #2 · Topics and Trends in Most Cited Marine and fisheries research Papers, Class of 2026*

*Canonical URL: https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/marine-and-fisheries-research/2026/rank-2*

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank | #2 |
| 18m citations | 113 |
| Journal | Nature |
| Year | 2024 |
| DOI | 10.1038/s41586-023-06825-8 |
| Corresponding authors | Fernando Paolo |
| Institution | Global Fishing Watch, United States |

**Ranking page:** [Topics and Trends in Most Cited Marine and fisheries research Papers, Class of 2026](https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/marine-and-fisheries-research/2026)

**Paper link:** [10.1038/s41586-023-06825-8](https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-06825-8)

## Topics

satellite imagery · vessel activity data · Deep learning models · industrial fishing vessels · public tracking systems · AIS (Automatic Identification System) · dark fishing · transport vessel activity · energy vessel activity · offshore energy infrastructure · offshore wind turbines · oil structures · COVID-19 pandemic impact on fishing · South Asia fishing activity · Southeast Asia fishing activity · Africa fishing activity · ocean industrialization mapping · coastal waters monitoring · untracked vessel detection · Fishing effort

## Cite this ranking

```
Pepkio Research Index (PRI). Topics and Trends in Most Cited Marine and fisheries research Papers, Class of 2026. https://pri.pepkio.com/top-papers/marine-and-fisheries-research/2026. Accessed 2026-07-17.

Zheng Su, Tinsley Li, Thematic Shifts in Early-High-Impact Cancer Genomics and Diagnostics Research: A Bibliometric and Semantic Analysis. bioRxiv 2026.07.04.736459; doi: https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.07.04.736459
```