Fishing Strategies and Oceanographic Drivers of Longline Fisheries in the Tropical Atlantic Ocean

ABSTRACT Tropical Atlantic Ocean is a vital region for longline fisheries, characterized by oceanographic features that enhance fishing productivity. However, there is a lack of information about key fishing hotspots and the factors influencing these areas, limiting efforts to optimize exploitation while ensuring sustainability. To address this gap, we analyzed monthly fishing effort data from the Global Fishing Watch platform (2019–2023) between 23.5°N and 23.5°S, focusing on the six most significant fleet nations. Spatial–temporal variables, along with fishing effort, were analyzed at a high resolution (0.01°). Distance from the nearest coastline was also calculated to assess fleet operations relative to Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) boundaries. To assess spatiotemporal variations and the influence of environmental variables on fishing effort distribution, we applied Generalized Additive Models. Results indicate that distant‐water and foreign fleets predominantly operate outside EEZs but approach national waters between May and September. In contrast, fleets from Brazil and Venezuela mainly operate within their EEZs, likely due to operational constraints and productive fishing grounds. Our model selection process identified sea surface salinity, sea surface height, and primary production as having a positive effect on fishing effort, while sea surface temperature, longitude, and distance from the coast showed a negative effect. These findings suggest that longline fleets favor upwelling zones, as well as warm‐core eddies, areas with positive SSH and high SSS, likely due to their role in aggregating target species. These insights can aid policymakers and stakeholders in identifying productive fishing areas and optimizing longline operations in Tropical Atlantic.