exactEarth Completes Its First Operational Mission
Satellite AIS technology helps Canadian Government in monitoring illegal unregulated unreported fishing
CAMBRIDGE, ON,
"We are pleased our technology has been able to contribute to international efforts to ensure sustainable fishing practices," said Peter Mabson, President of exactEarth. "This project illustrates just one of the many applications made possible by the exactAIS capability to detect ships from space rapidly over a wide area."
IUU fishing, in particular high seas driftnet fishing, has a devastating effect on marine life as nets up to 40-kilometres long catch everything in their path, resulting in depletion of valuable fish stocks. The United Nations has maintained a moratorium on driftnet fishing since 1992, but the problem persists, with many non-compliant fishing vessels actively concealing their violations.
The Department of National Defence engaged exactEarth to supply AIS data to assist in the monitoring and enforcement of IUU practices. The AIS data from NTS was provided on a daily basis over the entire region of the IUU study - a region which spanned more than six million square kilometres in the northern Pacific Ocean. As a result, the CF and DFO were able to target their monitoring efforts, which include aerial surveillance by Aurora maritime patrol aircraft, in a more efficient and cost-effective manner over this wide expanse.
The NTS nanosatellite was launched in April, 2008, to validate COM DEV's space-based AIS technology. Having successfully completed its original mission, the 8-kilogram spacecraft continues to orbit the Earth every 90 minutes and remains fully functional. IUU monitoring represents the first time exactEarth's AIS solution, exactAIS(TM), has been deployed for operational, rather than demonstration purposes.
exactEarth has announced plans to launch a constellation of larger microsatellites and offer a full-scale, commercial AIS data service beginning in 2010.
About exactEarth Ltd.
exactEarth Ltd. (www.exactEarth.com) is a data services company that leverages advanced microsatellite technology to deliver monitoring solutions characterized by high performance, reliability, security, and simplicity. exactEarth's initial service, exactAIS(TM), is a global vessel tracking and monitoring system based on world leading space-based advanced AIS detection technology. Based in Cambridge, ON,
This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from results indicated in any forward-looking statements. The Company cautions that, among other things, in view of the rapid changes in communications markets and technologies, and other risks including the cost and market acceptance of the Company's new products, the level of individual customer procurements and competitive product offerings and pricing, and general economic circumstances, the Company's business prospects may be materially different from forward-looking statements made by the Company.
The triangular logo and the word COM DEV are each registered trademarks and the property of COM DEV Ltd. The exactEarth logos and the words exactEarth and exactAIS are trademarks and the property of exactEarth Ltd. All rights reserved.
%SEDAR: 00003673E
For further information: Peter Mabson, President, exactEarth Ltd., Tel: (519) 622-2300 ext. 2262, [email protected]; Jeff Codispodi, The Equicom Group, Tel: (416) 815-0700 ext. 261, [email protected]
Share this article