A geospatial web service for small pelagic fish spatial distribution modeling and mapping with remote sensing

Abstract

Small pelagic fish are an essential resource for coastal countries worldwide and their assessment and monitoring are a key part of successful fisheries management. Advances in marine satellite remote sensing can contribute to the creation of methodologies for continual small pelagic fish spatial distribution monitoring that can act as supplementary tools for fisheries management decision making, enhancing traditional field practices. In this work a comprehensive Geospatial Web Service (GWS) is proposed that utilizes Sentinel-3 data to publish Spatial Distribution Modeling (SDM) maps for anchovy (Engraulis encrasiculous) and sardine (Sardina pilchardus). The proposed GWS is developed through the sole use of open-source programming languages and software and provides fishery management related data through various parameters: A) Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Chlorophyll-a Concentration (CHL), B) mesoscale oceanic fronts and C) the SDM maps for the target species. The SDM results are produced through a Random Forest algorithm and utilized oceanographic parameters relevant to the ecological needs of the target species (CHL, SST, oceanic fronts and bathymetry). All data are processed and gap-free through a spatiotemporal DINEOF interpolation, allowing the continuous provision of information independently of the weather conditions. Furthermore, the service integrates auxiliary information, such as weather and sea state forecasts, that aim to contribute to maritime safety for effective decision-making. The resulting GWS offers an easy to use and interactive tool that bridges the gap between the scientific community and the decision makers. The utilization of satellite remote sensing enhances the scalability of the proposed service for future improvements and continuous monitoring.