Application of GIS and Remote Sensing for Sustainable Fisheries Management in the Bay of Bengal: A Habitat Mapping Approach

Author: Sheikh Fahim Faysal Sowrav, Atika Afia Broty, Kawsar Ahmed Nazmul, Abu Syed Al-Imam
DOI: doi.org/10.70279/bmj-v8-1042
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The Bay of Bengal’s fisheries are under considerable pressure from overfishing and environmental degradation, threatening long-term sustainability. This study applies Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to map critical fish habitats, identify Potential Fishing Zones (PFZs), and assess species abundance. Satellite data from MODIS and Sentinel-3 provided insights into sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a concentrations, crucial for understanding fishery productivity. Analysis focused on four key fishing grounds—Swatch of No Ground, Middle Ground, South Patches, and South of South Patches—within Bangladesh’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which covers over 118,000 square kilometers of marine area. The study revealed that the South and South of South Patches, with depths up to 80 meters, have the highest species richness. Notably, SST in these regions ranged from 24°C to 28°C, and chlorophyll-a concentrations varied from 0 to 5 mg/m³. Yearly fish abundance trends from 2005 to 2021 showed a significant increase in Hilsa production from 277,123 metric tons (MT) in 2005 to 566,593 MT in 2021, a rise of over 100%. The findings underline the importance of habitat mapping for improving management strategies and reducing overfishing. This study also highlights the critical role of remote sensing and GIS in identifying optimal fishing zones, supporting Bangladesh’s efforts toward sustainable fisheries management and marine conservation.