SPRINGFIELD, Virginia – The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency and the National Security Innovation Network are hosting a prize challenge to identify innovative solutions from across the commercial and academic communities to forecast global maritime vessel traffic involved in illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

IUU fishing is a key contributor to the decline and potential collapse of fisheries, threatening the stability of economies, food systems and ecosystems regionally and worldwide.

The challenge is open to U.S. citizens, U.S.-owned and operated companies, institutes of higher learning and start-ups. Applicants may submit as individuals, teams or partnered teams. 

“We are using a challenge format with a $1 million prize pool to tap into innovative thinking outside of our traditional acquisition process,” said Ronzelle Green, Ph.D., director of NGA Research. “As a global leader in maritime domain awareness, NGA always looks for fresh, time-saving solutions, and the agency views the challenge as a way to expand partnerships.”

A unique aspect of the IUU fishing challenge is that it will involve only unclassified data and methods, which will enable NGA to share information faster and easier across the government and with international partners. 

You can find more information about the prize challenge, including eligibility requirements, prize details, a schedule of key challenge dates and instructions for applying here.