batch_auto_20260713 202607131256465730 BOEM ESP geoESPIS ESPIS@boem.gov Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Linking multiple data sources to better describe fishing vessel activity on the Atlantic OCS National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Biogeography Branch National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Sightings of commercial fishing vessels in wildlife survey datasets were compared to GPS vessel tracking data. In total, 4,574 vessel sightings were compared to automatic identification system (AIS) data, and 18,400 were compared with vessel monitoring system (VMS) data. Unfortunately, few datasets had the majority of vessel sightings matched to nearby AIS or VMS tracks; the ones that did had a highly uncertain estimated proportion matched; and there were large inconsistencies in the estimated proportions among years, seasons, and subregions of the analysis. Linking wildlife survey data and AIS and/or VMS tracks did not result in a robust correction factor for the degree to which commercial fishing activity is underestimated by vessel tracking data. 250000 U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Environmental Studies Program https://doi.org/10.13039/100012475 M21PG00009 10.67297/9A1EA8 https://boem.gov/awardpages/100392