Multiple ocean parameter-based potential fishing zone (PFZ) location generation and validation in the Western Bay of Bengal

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 196; no. 1; p. 98
• Main Authors: Sarangi, R. K., Jishad, M., Sharma, Rashmi, Das, Ansuman, Mali, Kiran, Ramalingam, L., Kizhakudan, Shoba Joe, Kumar, A. Saravana, Samal, R.N., Prakash, Chandra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer International Publishing 01-01-2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animals; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bays; Catch per unit effort; Chlorophyll; Chlorophylls; Current vectors; Data points; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Eddies; Ekman transport; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental Monitoring; Fish; Fisheries; Fisheries surveys; Fishery data; Fishery surveys; Fishing; Fishing zones; Food availability; Fronts; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Regression analysis; Satellite data; Sea surface; Sea surface temperature; Surface temperature; Temperature gradients; Trawlnets; Vectors; Vortices; Winds; Bay of Bengal; Validation; CPUE; Ocean features; PFZ; Bay of Bengal; Hook rates
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-12259-6

A new conceptual framework based on satellite data, including chlorophyll (CHL), sea surface temperature (SST) fronts, relative winds, current vectors, Ekman transport, and eddies, has been developed to identify potential fishing zones (PFZ) in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). The framework aims to provide persistent forecasts, even under cloudy conditions, based on feature propagation. The validation of the PFZ was carried out using fish catch data collected by the Fishery Survey of India (FSI) between 2016 and 2018. Hooking rates (HR) from longlines and catch per unit effort (CPUE) from trawl nets were used to analyse the data points in hook rate categories (1.0–3.0 and > 3.0) and CPUE categories (50–100 kg and > 100 kg) and interpret them with the PFZ maps. The analysis showed that the high fish catch locations were consistent with persisting features in the BoB, such as high chlorophyll patches, SST fronts, and cyclonic eddies. The high fish catch locations based on hook rate and high CPUE were found to be collocated with the high chlorophyll persisting features and thermal gradients in the BoB. The regression analysis shows that availability of the food (CHL) had the strongest correlation with fish catch, followed by the comfort condition (fronts and eddies).