(Development of WISE Program to foster AI Professionals
for Marine Industries)

Report on Completion of internship at the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA) (KISHIMOTO, Course of Marine Policy and Management)

From November 25, 2024, I had an opportunity to participate in an internship at the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency(FRA) for a month, specifically in the Fisheries Data Science Division, Fisheries Stock Assessment Center, Fisheries Resources Institute. This division analyzes fisheries data using AI to understand domestic and international fishing activities and develop methods for assessing fishery resources.

During my internship, I worked on analyzing the location data obtained from AIS (Automatic Identification System) for domestic purse seine vessels and examined the relationship between sea surface height, water temperature, and vessel behavior.  At the beginning of the internship, I felt somewhat uncertain about my abilities, as it was my first experience in a national research institution. However, the researchers kindly guided me through the data analysis procedures, and I was able to acquire valuable skills, particularly in integrating and visualizing vessel trajectory coordinates with environmental data. Through the process of analysis, I realized that trial and error is an essential and engaging part of the work, which allowed me to enjoy the project until the very end.

On the final day, I had the opportunity to present my analysis results in front of the researchers and received insightful feedback from a professional perspective, which provided me with valuable suggestions for my future research. In addition to working on my project, I also had the chance to tour the research facilities and interact with researchers from other departments at the forefront of their fields. As a student studying fisheries, these three weeks were an incredibly enriching experience.

 

Although the internship was short, being able to witness firsthand the advanced data analysis using AI in the fisheries field was an invaluable experience. This opportunity has further deepened my interest and motivation to contribute to this field.

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone at the Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency(FRA) for accepting me as an intern.

(KISHIMOTO, 1st year student, Course of Marine Policy and Management)