Pulitzer Center Update September 17, 2025

Webinar On-Demand: How to OSINT the Ocean

Media: Authors:
a crab boat captain looks out the window on his boat
English

The ocean has absorbed the vast majority of global warming so far, but it may be reaching a limit...

 

The ocean may seem vast and opaque, but open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools are changing the way we monitor it.

From tracking illegal fishing and ship movements to uncovering pollution and port activity, in a hands-on webinar, journalists learn how to harness publicly available data to shine a light on maritime activities that often escape scrutiny. Participants cover:

  • Using satellite imagery and vessel-tracking platforms like AIS (automatic identification system)
  • Monitoring shipping routes and flag registries
  • Identifying signs of transshipment and illegal fishing
  • Finding stories in environmental crime, smuggling, and maritime labor abuse

This session is for investigative journalists, environmental reporters, and data enthusiasts curious about bringing OSINT to their reporting.