Morocco 's ATLAN company is developing artificial intelligence ( AI ) for drones to combat illegal fishing . In June , the company won the National Geographic Society 's $ 150,000 Marine Protection Prize to launch a pilot scheme to combat illegal fishing in the Mediterranean . The drone will then establish whether the boat is operating inside a marine protected area, and if it is an authorized fishing vessel. The drones will be used to fly over illegal fishing areas and when they detect a boat , their AI technology will verify the kind of boat , whether its operating inside a marine - protected area and if it is authorised . If a vessel deems the activity illegal , it registers the boat 's location and ID number and it to authorities via satellite .
Morocco 's ATLAN company is developing artificial intelligence ( AI ) for drones to combat illegal fishing . In June , the company won the National Geographic Society 's $ 150,000 Marine Protection Prize to launch a pilot scheme to combat illegal fishing in the Mediterranean . The drones will be used to fly over illegal fishing areas and when they detect a boat , their AI technology will verify the kind of boat , whether its operating inside a marine - protected area and if it is authorised . If a vessel deems the activity illegal , it registers the boat 's location and ID number and it to authorities via satellite .