Dyhia Belhabib

Why you should listen

Oceans can be a dangerous place, where illegal fishing thrives with relative impunity. And, of course, it’s not only the wildlife that suffers: Maritime crime also jeopardizes the livelihoods and food security of millions of people. Dyhia Belhabib is using technology — such as Spyglass, a comprehensive record of criminal fishing vessels — to address these issues. The platform helps NGOs and governments around the world focus their surveillance efforts and understand what’s actually happening out on the waves.
Belhabib is currently principal investigator of fisheries at Ecotrust Canada and executive director at Nautical Crime Investigation Services, where she helps create other technologies for maritime enforcement and fisheries management. She runs the Raw Crimes Podcast and builds training curriculums for maritime law enforcement to detect and deter crimes at sea. Her work has been featured in publications including The New York Times and The Guardian.