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. 2024 Jan 25;24(3):781.
doi: 10.3390/s24030781.

Monitoring Off-Shore Fishing in the Northern Indian Ocean Based on Satellite Automatic Identification System and Remote Sensing Data

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Monitoring Off-Shore Fishing in the Northern Indian Ocean Based on Satellite Automatic Identification System and Remote Sensing Data

Jie Li et al. Sensors (Basel). .

Abstract

Satellite-derived Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and sea-surface Chlorophyll a concentration (Chl-a), along with Automatic Identification System (AIS) data of fishing vessels, were used in the examination of the correlation between fishing operations and oceanographic factors within the northern Indian Ocean from March 2020 to February 2023. Frequency analysis and the empirical cumulative distribution function (ECDF) were used to calculate the optimum ranges of two oceanographic factors for fishing operations. The results revealed a substantial influence of the northeast and southwest monsoons significantly impacting fishing operations in the northern Indian Ocean, with extensive and active operations during the period from October to March and a notable reduction from April to September. Spatially, fishing vessels were mainly concentrated between 20° N and 6° S, extending from west of 90° E to the eastern coast of Africa. Observable seasonal variations in the distribution of fishing vessels were observed in the central and southeastern Arabian Sea, along with its adjacent high sea of the Indian Ocean. Concerning the marine environment, it was observed that during the northeast monsoon, the suitable SST contributed to high CPUEs in fishing operation areas. Fishing vessels were widely distributed in the areas with both mid-range and low-range Chl-a concentrations, with a small part distributed in high-concentration areas. Moreover, the monthly numbers of fishing vessels showed seasonal fluctuations between March 2020 and February 2023, displaying a periodic pattern with an overall increasing trend. The total number of fishing vessels decreased due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but this was followed by a gradual recovery in the subsequent two years. For fishing operations in the northern Indian Ocean, the optimum ranges for SST and Chl-a concentration were 27.96 to 29.47 °C and 0.03 to 1.81 mg/m3, respectively. The preliminary findings of this study revealed the spatial-temporal distribution characteristics of fishing vessels in the northern Indian Ocean and the suitable ranges of SST and Chl-a concentration for fishing operations. These results can serve as theoretical references for the production and resource management of off-shore fishing operations in the northern Indian Ocean.

Keywords: automatic identification system (AIS); chlorophyll a concentration (Chl-a); fishing vessels; northern Indian Ocean; sea surface temperature (SST); spatial–temporal distribution.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The northern Indian Ocean.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Interannual distribution heat maps of fishing vessels.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Monthly variations and trend analysis of the numbers of fishing vessels. (a) Monthly variations. (b) Trend analysis. The averages and trend lines are shown in red.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Monthly spatial distribution of fishing vessels and SST.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Monthly spatial distribution of fishing vessels and SST.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Monthly spatial distribution of fishing vessels and Chl-a concentration.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Monthly spatial distribution of fishing vessels and Chl-a concentration.
Figure 6
Figure 6
Frequency distribution histograms of SST/Chl-a concentration with CPUE. (a) SST. (b) Chl-a concentration.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Empirical cumulative distribution function for CPUE and SST (a), Chl-a concentration (b).

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