[XorNot]

Fuel costs I suspect, which is where those continuous flight high altitude solar powered planes NASA was experimenting with really come into play.

That said, satellite tracking shipping is pretty easy - It's interdicting ina timely fashion which is not.

[bell-cot]

Agreed that interdicting - if that means a naval or coast guard ship, or a submarine - is far more difficult and expensive.

But cheap drones can transmit "don't do that!" warnings. And also video footage of the situation. Which would seriously change both the maritime law and political situations.