Remote Sensing And Its Application To Inland Fisheries And Agriculture

The publication is an easy-to-understand publication that emphasizes the fundamental skills and processes associated with geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing. The first chapter initially puts the array of spatially related problems into perspective and discusses the earlier applications of GIS and remote sensing. Chapters, 2, 3 and 4 outline what are considered to be the basics on which GIS can function, i.e. hardware and software; spatial data; and how GIS systems themselves are best implemented. Chapter 5 looks at preparing the data for GIS use and Chapter 6 explores what remote sensing consists of and the main purposes for its use. Chapter 7 discusses the functional tools and techniques offered by typical GIS software packages. Chapters 8, 9 and 10 examine respectively, the current issues and status, including extensive case studies, of the application of GIS and remote sensing to aquaculture, to inland fisheries and to marine fisheries.

Many fishery biologists and policy makers involved in inland fisheries management and planning are unaware of GIS technology and its potential for fisheries planning and management. The FAO Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service (FIRI) has been active for the last 19 years in promoting the use of GIS and remote sensing in fisheries and aquaculture. Promotional activities have been carried out through training, projects, field missions, and oral presentations and publications. However, a manual to use along with GIS software for the fisheries biologists in the field explaining GIS in a way that is understandable to non-GIS users had not been produced until now. This manual was written to overcome this knowledge-gap, it is a "do-it-yourself" manual giving a short introduction to GIS software and its applications in fishery science. The overall objective of this manual is to encourage fishery managers to use this tool (GIS) to foster the sustainable use of natural resources. There are five main sections in the manual: GIS concepts and functions and key tools provided by ArcView 3.x, Geographic coordinate system and map projections, Raster data and analysis, Regression analysis, and Application case studies. All sections are accompanied by exercises that have been designed to illustrate key applications of GIS in inland and marine fisheries management. Also, a custom-designed ArcView grid regression extension is included to show the integration of GIS with surplus production models.

Topics: 1) Spatially variable production functions controlling aquaculture and inland fisheries; 2) Obtaining data for spatial decisions; 3) Remote sensing as a data source; 4) Traditional mapping as an aid to spatial decision-making; 5) The functioning and uses of geographic information systems; 6) Some case studies showing applications of remote sensing and geographical information systems to aquaculture and inland fisheries.

The objective of this document is to illustrate the ways in which Geographical Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing and mapping can play a role in the development and management of marine aquaculture. The perspective is global. The approach is to employ example applications that have been aimed at resolving many of the important issues in marine aquaculture. The underlying purpose is to stimulate the interest of individuals in the government, industry and educational sectors of marine aquaculture to make more effective use of these tools. A brief introduction to spatial tools and their use in the marine fisheries sector precedes the example applications. The most recent applications have been selected to be indicative of the state of the art, allowing readers to make their own assessments of the benefits and limitations of use of these tools in their own disciplines. Also published in Chinese and Spanish.

The science and technology of remote sensing is introduced in terms of its history, concepts and language, and its application to the exploitation and management of marine fisheries. The physics of electromagnetic radiation is reviewed with reference to atmospheric and target interactions. The variety of sensor platforms and sensor types are described, the latter in the context of either global or sequential acquisition systems. Environmental satellites, their associated sensors and the techniques of digital image processing also are reviewed. Direct and indirect applications of remore sensing technology to fisheries are described in general, followed by a series of specific case studies. Recommended reference material, a glossary of terms and acronyms, sources of oceanographic satellite data and a selected list of training institutions conclude this manual.