(1/5) New research published in @NatureComms shows #marine traffic on the world ocean dropped during the first half of the #COVID19 pandemic as mobility restrictions came into force.

Read the #openaccess paper: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22423-6

(2/5) Researchers from @UniofExeter, @socib_icts and @IMEDEA_UIB_CSIC used data from a #satellite vessel tracking system to compare ship and boat traffic in January to June 2020 with the same period in 2019.

(3/5) Ship movements decreased in 70.2% of countries and global declines peaked in April 2020 , but by June - as #COVID19 restrictions were eased in many countries – ship movements began to increase .

(4/5) Response was uneven across sectors. The largest and longest-lasting reductions were in passenger vessels, while tankers, cargo vessels and #fishing boats were least affected.

(5/5) Detailed analysis of the Western #Mediterranean showed reductions in #boat movements reached a maximum of 62.2% during mid-April, being one of the areas with the highest reduction. This included a 93.7% reduction in movements of recreational boats.