Advances in fisheries applications of remote sensing

During the past four decades the fisheries productivity of the world has been declining due to pressures from overfishing, habitat change, pollution, and climate change. Sustainable use of marine resources requires effective monitoring and management of the world's fish stocks. Remote sensing techniques are being used to help manage fisheries at sustainable levels, while also guiding fishing fleets to locate fish schools more efficiently. Fish tend to aggregate in ocean areas that exhibit conditions favored by specific fish species. Some of the relevant oceanographic conditions, such as sea surface temperature, ocean color (productivity) and oceanic fronts, which strongly influence natural fluctuations of fish stocks, can be observed and measured by remote sensors on satellites and aircraft. The remotely sensed data are provided in near-real time to help fishermen save fuel and ship time during their search for fish; to modelers who produce fisheries forecasts; and to scientists who help develop strategies for sustainable fisheries management. This article describes how acoustic, optical and radar sensors on ships, satellites and aircraft are used with forecast models to improve the management and harvesting of fisheries resources.