Context-dependent changes in maritime traffic activity during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic
Alexandra Loveridge, Christopher D. Elvidge, David A. Kroodsma, Timothy D. White, Karen Evans, Akiko Kato, Yan Ropert‐Coudert, Julia Sommerfeld, Akinori Takahashi, Robert Patchett, Benjamin Robira, Christian Rutz, David Sims
Abstract
Rapid implementation of human mobility restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically reduced maritime activity in early 2020. But where and when activity rebounded, or remained low, during the full extent of 2020 restrictions remains unclear. Using global high-resolution datasets, we reveal a surprising degree of complexity in maritime activity patterns during 2020, yielding a more nuanced picture of how restrictions affected activity. Overall, shipping activity in Exclusive Economic Zones decreased (1.35 %), as expected, however high-seas activity increased (0.28 %). While these annual changes appear modest, there were striking spatially and temporally asynchronous variations in different vessel types’ activity in the second half of 2020, ranging from an > 80 % sustained reduction in passenger vessel activity to a 150 % increase in fishing activity. Results suggest systems-level responses were highly context-dependent, pinpointing areas that experienced significant reductions and spikes in activity, and providing hitherto missing details of COVID-19 impacts on economic and environmental sustainability.