Tony Long

Tony Long is an ocean conservation leader and the chief executive officer of Global Fishing Watch, an independent nonprofit focused on advancing sustainable ocean governance through transparency in commercial fishing activity. As CEO, Long leads a team of senior executives, directors, and subject matter experts, drawing on extensive experience in maritime security, conservation, and organizational leadership.

Long served 27 years in the British Royal Navy, commanding HMS Blyth and HMS Monmouth, teaching at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, and providing planning and policy support to the head of the Navy and government ministers. He holds a master's degree in defense studies from King's College London. After his military career, Long transitioned to the nonprofit sector, applying his maritime expertise to ocean conservation. Before joining Global Fishing Watch, he directed The Pew Charitable Trusts' global campaign to end illegal fishing, utilizing policy, technology, and enforcement tools. He led a team that contributed to the ratification of the Port State Measures Agreement and pioneered the creation of a maritime monitoring system to help authorities identify and prosecute illegal fishing. At Pew, he also played a key role in the development of the "Eyes on the Seas" project.

Long became the first permanent CEO of Global Fishing Watch, joining the organization shortly after its incorporation as an independent NGO. In this role, he has overseen the creation of an open-access, live-stream picture of fishing and other industrial activity at sea, transforming ocean monitoring and management. He leads a global team of policy experts, fisheries analysts, data scientists, and engineers using advanced technology to visualize, track, and share data on global fishing activity. Under Long's leadership, Global Fishing Watch has established partnerships with governments worldwide, including Indonesia, which became the first nation to publish its proprietary vessel monitoring system data on a public platform, advancing global fisheries transparency.

A recipient of support from The Audacious Project, Long introduced the first live map of all industrial human activity at sea, leveraging satellite data and artificial intelligence to address maritime offenses. Global Fishing Watch received a $60 million investment through The Audacious Project, supporting the development of a digital ocean initiative that aims to reveal all industrial human activity at sea through an open ocean project. Long delivered a TED Talk released on World Ocean Day, describing the organization's project to map and monitor all industrial activity at sea and make this knowledge freely available. His talk, titled "The Outlaws of the Ocean — and How We're Reeling Them In," highlighted the need for ocean transparency and the role of satellite technology and artificial intelligence in combating illegal fishing.

Long is a frequent contributor to international forums, including the World Economic Forum and the United Nations Ocean Conference. He has moderated plenary sessions featuring leadership from the European Commission, the Republic of Korea, and Ghana, and has partnered with organizations such as SkyTruth and Oceana to advance marine area protection strategies. Long's background in naval command, international policy, and conservation technology positions him as a leading speaker on the intersection of data, governance, and the future of the world's oceans.