These stunning images trace ships' routes as they move

Clusters of fishing vessels gravitating toward known fishing grounds create some of the most interesting patterns on the maps. Global Fishing Watch is an international nonprofit that uses AIS to monitor the fishing industry, seeking to protect marine life from overfishing. But it says that only 2% of fishing vessels use AIS transmitters. The organization, which is backed by Google, the ocean conservation group Oceana, and the satellite imagery company SkyTruth, combines AIS data with satellite imagery and uses machine learning to classify the types of fishing technology being used. In a press release announcing the creation of Global Fishing Watch, John Amos, the president and founder of SkyTruth, said: "So much of what happens out on the high seas is invisible, and that has been a huge barrier to understanding and showing the world what's at stake for the ocean."