Now you see them: FIU researchers uncover patterns in vessels that vanish at sea

FIU Study: 11 Vessels Drive Most Dark Fishing Off W. Africa

FIU criminologists analyzed 3,600+ dark vessel journeys off West Africa, finding 11 chronic offenders behind 73% of transponder blackouts.

Now you see them: FIU researchers uncover patterns in vessels that vanish at sea

By JoAnn Adkins October 14, 2026 at 10:53am Across the waters of West Africa, commercial fishing vessels vanish along international boundary lines. No signal. No location. Hours — sometimes days, and even weeks — pass. Then, they suddenly reappear. In a bizarre plot twist, new FIU research reveals 11 ships account for the majority of […] The post Now you see them: FIU researchers uncover patterns in vessels that vanish at sea appeared first on M…