How can journalists use the latest tools and technologies in their ocean reporting? What are practical ways to get started, and how can they complement traditional journalistic methods? From tracking fishing vessels to investigating activity at sea, ocean monitoring tools can help journalists uncover stories that might otherwise go unreported.
To help journalists explore these possibilities, Mongabay’s free series of webinars for journalists continues with How to Use Ocean Monitoring Tools.
Join Mongabay’s Global Bureau for a practical introduction to Global Fishing Watch and Skylight, two tools that can help journalists investigate activity at sea. Experts from both platforms will explain how they work, while Mongabay’s Ocean Desk will share firsthand experiences of using monitoring tools in its reporting, including their applications and limitations.
The session will conclude with a live audience Q&A.
Joining the panel are:
- Michelle Carrere – Senior Contributing Editor, Ocean Desk, Mongabay
- Aimée Komugabe-Dixson – Senior Manager of Capacity Development and Knowledge Exchange, Global Fishing Watch
- Namrata Kolla – Program Lead, Skylight
Event details
When: December 1 from 21:00-22:30 UTC (check your local time)
Where: Zoom webinar or livestreamed on Mongabay’s YouTube channel. A recording of this webinar will be available afterwards on Mongabay’s YouTube Channel.
The experts
Michelle Carrere
Michelle Carrere is a Chilean journalist, editor and reporter at Mongabay Latam, where she has written and led investigations into illegal fishing, the trafficking of marine species, deforestation linked to drug trafficking, and illegal mining. Some of her work has been nominated for the Gabo Award and selected as among the best investigative reports in Latin America by the Global Investigative Journalism Network. In 2023, she won the Inter-American Press Association award for best feature article. The Pulitzer Centre, in a report on global coverage of ocean-related issues, ranked her amongst the best journalists.
Aimée Komugabe-Dixson
Aimée Komugabe-Dixson is the Senior Manager of Capacity Development and Knowledge Exchange with Global Fishing Watch. She supports their efforts to build capacity and transfer technology to national and regional partners, working with governments and communities to strengthen marine resource management through training, knowledge-sharing, and access to emerging technologies. She has 15 years of experience in marine science, fisheries management, and capacity development, including roles with the Government of Tuvalu and New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries. She holds a doctorate in marine biogeochemistry from the Australian National University and Bachelor’s degrees in biotechnology and business from the University of Technology, Sydney.
Namrata Kolla
Namrata Kolla (Nam) leads the Skylight program at the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (Ai2). Skylight is a no-cost platform providing AI-powered intelligence for 95+ countries to support their efforts in illegal fishing and ocean protection. She has held various positions in the conservation space for over ten years, including Data Scientist for the Mayor of Seattle, Research Consultant for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and various roles at The Nature Conservancy. She has a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Washington, and a Bachelor’s in Earth & Atmospheric Sciences from Georgia Tech.
Pitch Mongabay a story
If you have a story idea, please submit your pitch via Mongabay’s Opportunities page.
About Mongabay
Mongabay is a nonprofit environmental science and conservation news platform focused on providing cutting-edge independent journalism from nature’s frontline. We pride ourselves on producing reporting that has substantial, tangible impacts around the world.