Using Artificial Intelligence to Combat Wildlife Crime

Identifying Illegal Fishing in the Congo from Space

Conkouati-Douli National Park in the Republic of the Congo boasts an enormous marine protected area (MPA) dealing with illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Park management relies on a program called Skylight by the Allen Institute for AI to patrol their MPA. Usually, relying on satellites to identify criminal acts on boats is difficult. How do you know if one boat is illegally fishing, sightseeing, or just passing through among complex marine traffic?

To solve this issue, Skylight analyzes satellite imagery with advanced computer vision models to identify anomalous boat behaviors common among illegal fishers, such as suspicious rendezvous in the area. Headquarters can then dispatch interceptors to catch unsuspecting wildlife criminals in the act. In one case, Skylight’s technology led to the apprehension of illegal, unreported, and unregulated shark fishers operating at night—something neither land radar nor officers in boats could have otherwise detected.

However, implementing AI technology poses additional risks to vulnerable rangers. Many rangers in less industrialized countries, like those evaluated in Srepok, Cambodia during a test of the AI system Protection Assistant for Wildlife Security (PAWS), according to the Harvard Business Review, are deeply familiar with their local area and highly motivated, but also poorly trained, equipped, and paid. If AI technology significantly increases confrontation with wildlife criminals, as it has in these examples, then there is a demonstrated concern that a higher number of less equipped, less experienced park rangers will be harmed in the process. A higher casualty rate could reduce ranger willingness to use AI or dissuade recruits in an already deadly occupation. At the same time, more confrontations, and therefore disruption of wildlife crime, have marked impacts on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.

Conclusion

Today, the use of AI in fighting wildlife crime protects the habitats and lives of many important species. If AI in this field is dismissed entirely by wildlife services, many advantages stand to be lost. As this case study has demonstrated, a variety of tools exist to fight a variety of crimes in a variety of circumstances. 

Still, there are valid concerns with some forms of wildlife crime-fighting AI. For example, a concern is the implementation of AI as a ‘quick fix’ solution at the expense of people. Resources need to be allocated not just to buying the technology itself, but also working with and training the local volunteers or law enforcement in their use. As much as AI tools can help, these tools are only as good as the people that they support. To be effective AI tools must be supplemented by well-equipped, well-trained, motivated, and uncorrupt rangers.

With greater attention, and with more technological breakthroughs likely, the future looks a little brighter for our most critically endangered wildlife thanks to specific AI technology.