Last Tow transforms with an insights-oriented data solution

Phase 1: Engineering a clean and unified dataset

Our data engineers started by working closely with the Last Tow team to ingest and unify all available datasets. We used PySpark to process large volumes of raw data, classify activities, and organize trips based on vessel IDs and timestamps. We employed tools like ogr2ogr, GeoPandas, and GeoPy to standardize geospatial boundaries for the lease area, cable corridors, and coastal limits. This helped us create a custom data pipeline to handle large amounts of data.

Phase 2: Visualizing fishing patterns

With structured data in place, the team was ready for the next critical phase: visualization. We created custom visuals to highlight key fishing patterns:

• Heat maps spotlighted zones with high-intensity towing
• Year-by-year vessel paths captured spatial behavior over time
• Polar plots illustrated the directionality of vessel travel within the lease area
• CSV summaries surfaced visit counts for each location
• Longest and shortest vessel paths helped identify voyage outliers

These visualizations empowered fishing stakeholders, alongside planners and environmental consultants, with a clear view of how fishing operations interact with proposed wind energy infrastructure.

Phase 3: Environmental consultation and documentation

One important component of the engagement was helping Last Towidentify the most experienced surf clam captains operating within the lease area. Using our vessel-level analysis, we pinpointed those with the highest levels of activity, a critical input for benthic condition assessment and ecological planning.

To ensure transparency and reusability,we set up a shared GitHub repository and implemented GitHub Actions for continuous integration and version control. Every update, visualization, and output was documented, allowing the Last Tow team to build on the work for future engagements or regulatory reviews.

Impact

A clear view of active fishing zones

• The most active fishing zones to avoid conflicts during turbine placement
• Long-term vessel movement patterns to support multi-year planning
• Key vessels and captains for targeted benthic impact evaluations

This level of visibility was a game-changer. It allowed stakeholders from both the energy and fishing sectors to sit at the same table, backed by a shared understanding of the data.

Most importantly, the project proved that renewable energy development and commercial fishing don’t have to be at odds. When industries collide, data builds the bridge. And when that data yields precise, actionable insights, the future becomes a little more sustainable for everyone.