biostudies-literatureMcCauley DJAlfred P. Sloan FoundationWellcome TrustNational Science Foundationeaau2161https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6070320biostudies-literatureUnknown4(8)The patterns by which different nations share global fisheries influence outcomes for food security, trajectories of economic development, and competition between industrial and small-scale fishing. We report patterns of industrial fishing effort for vessels flagged to higher- and lower-income nations, in marine areas within and beyond national jurisdiction, using analyses of high-resolution fishing vessel activity data. These analyses reveal global dominance of industrial fishing by wealthy nations. Vessels flagged to higher-income nations, for example, are responsible for 97% of the trackable industrial fishing on the high seas and 78% of such effort within the national waters of lower-income countries. These publicly accessible vessel tracking data have important limitations. However, iScience advancesWealthy countries dominate industrial fishing.PMC6070320FR-2015-65479106864MADBI- 1052875McCauley DJKroodsma DJablonicky CAllison EHMayorga JJoyce FHGolden CDfalseWealthy countries dominate industrial fishing.The patterns by which different nations share global fisheries influence outcomes for food security, trajectories of economic development, and competition between industrial and small-scale fishing. We report patterns of industrial fishing effort for vessels flagged to higher- and lower-income nations, in marine areas within and beyond national jurisdiction, using analyses of high-resolution fishing vessel activity data. These analyses reveal global dominance of industrial fishing by wealthy nations. Vessels flagged to higher-income nations, for example, are responsible for 97% of the trackable industrial fishing on the high seas and 78% of such effort within the national waters of lower-income countries. These publicly accessible vessel tracking data have important limitations. However, i2018-01-01T00:00:00Z2018 Aug2026-05-05T23:16:47.422Z2019-03-26T23:50:25ZS-EPMC60703203008361310.1126/sciadv.aau2161