An overview Assessment of the Effectiveness of Satellite Images and Remote Sensing in Predicting Potential Fishing Grounds and its Applicability for Rastrelliger kanagurta in the Malaysian EEZ off the South China Sea

Abstract This paper presents an overview of the effectiveness of satellite images with remote sensing applications in determining potential fishing grounds and its applicability for the Indian mackerel (R. kanagurta) in the Malaysian EEZ off the South China Sea. Most oceanic fish species tend to aggregate in large schools that can span tens of kilometers. Thus, finding fish schools and productive fishing areas is the main cause of fuel consumption and ship time expense in many commercial fisheries. In order to lower the cost of fishing operations, there is a need to accurately predict and detect economically fishable aggregations of fish in space and time. Recent studies have shown that the combined use of remote sensing together with statistical analysis and the advancement of geographical information analysis can be used not only to help manage fisheries at sustainable levels but also guide fishing fleets to increase their catch. These modern techniques may facilitate the implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. The assessment of the effectiveness of satellite images in predicting potential fishing grounds and its applicability for the Indian mackerel (R. kanagurta) in Peninsular Malaysia are reviewed.