GIS for Fisheries and Aquaculture Training Course

Participants can structure fisheries datasets and select coordinate systems suitable for analysis.

• Vector geometry, raster cells and attribute tables matched to fisheries questions
• Geographic versus projected coordinate reference systems selected for local analysis
• UTM zones, datums and EPSG codes checked before layer integration
• Feature classes, geodatabases and relational joins structured for recurring updates
• Topology rules identify gaps, overlaps, dangles and duplicate sampling locations
• Scale, resolution and positional accuracy interpreted in management maps

Participants can assess, document and organise spatial datasets for fisheries and aquaculture work.

• Primary, secondary and crowdsourced geospatial data assessed for fitness
• FAO, national hydrographic and oceanographic sources evaluated for licensing conditions
• ISO 19115 metadata elements recorded for datasets and derived products
• Data dictionaries define field names, units, codes and allowable values
• File formats compared: GeoPackage, GeoTIFF, CSV, NetCDF and shapefile
• Provenance records connect source data, transformations and map outputs

Participants can plan field data collection that supports valid spatial analysis.

• Survey objectives converted into sampling frames, transects and observation forms
• Mobile data collection configured with mandatory fields and controlled vocabularies
• GNSS accuracy, waypoint averaging and field-position error documented
• Stratified random sampling supports habitat and pond-condition surveys
• Chain-of-custody procedures protect sensitive fishing-ground and vessel-location data
• Field validation reconciles observed features with imagery classifications

Participants can select appropriate satellite imagery for fisheries and aquaculture monitoring tasks.

• Electromagnetic spectrum concepts relate sensor bands to water and vegetation
• Sentinel-2, Landsat and SAR missions compared for coastal monitoring
• Spatial, spectral, temporal and radiometric resolution matched to requirements
• Cloud cover, tidal state and sun glint assessed before scene selection
• Image catalogues searched using footprint, date range and processing level
• Band combinations reveal turbidity, mangroves, ponds and shoreline features

Participants can prepare satellite imagery for repeatable coastal and aquaculture analysis.

• Radiometric calibration converts digital numbers into physically interpretable reflectance values
• Atmospheric correction methods selected for optical coastal-water imagery
• Cloud, shadow and land masks remove unusable pixels systematically
• Image mosaics, clipping and resampling prepared without unnecessary interpolation
• Co-registration checks prevent false change signals between acquisition dates
• Tidal normalization reduces shoreline and intertidal classification error

Participants can produce and assess habitat and pond maps from satellite imagery.

• Training samples designed from field observations, imagery and expert interpretation
• Supervised classification separates mangroves, seagrass, water and aquaculture ponds
• Random Forest classification parameters tuned using independent validation samples
• Confusion matrices report producer, user and overall classification accuracy
• Object-based image analysis distinguishes pond boundaries from mixed shoreline pixels
• Habitat maps symbolised with uncertainty notes and minimum mapping units

Participants can analyse the spatial distribution of catches, trips and fishing effort.

• Catch-per-unit-effort data joined to trip, gear and landing-site locations
• Fishing effort grids calculated from vessel tracks and logbook records
• Kernel density estimation identifies recurring fishing concentrations and access patterns
• Seasonal aggregation compares effort displacement before and after closures
• Spatial joins summarise catches by management zone, depth band and habitat
• Confidentiality thresholds suppress identifiable vessel and fisher information

Participants can create transparent suitability models for aquaculture site screening.

• Site-selection criteria defined for species, production system and market access
• Multi-criteria evaluation combines exclusion zones, constraints and suitability factors
• Analytic Hierarchy Process weights documented through pairwise stakeholder comparisons
• Raster reclassification standardises salinity, slope, distance and infrastructure scores
• Weighted overlay produces transparent suitability classes and sensitivity scenarios
• Candidate sites screened against permits, tenure and environmental safeguards

Participants can map water-quality observations and identify environmental risk areas.

• Sampling stations linked to depth, discharge points, farms and currents
• Time-enabled layers reveal dissolved oxygen, temperature and chlorophyll patterns
• Interpolation methods compared: IDW, ordinary kriging and empirical Bayesian kriging
• Cross-validation statistics assess prediction error before surface-map publication
• Threshold maps flag harmful algal bloom and low-oxygen risk areas
• Watershed land-use layers explain nutrient-loading and sediment-source patterns

Participants can assess shoreline, habitat and exposure changes affecting fisheries and farms.

• Shoreline positions extracted using consistent tidal references and image dates
• Digital Shoreline Analysis System measures transects, rates and uncertainty
• Change detection maps identify pond expansion, mangrove loss and erosion
• Post-classification comparison separates real change from classification disagreement
• Bathymetric contours and slope models support landing-site and cage planning
• Exposure mapping combines wave climate, fetch and coastal orientation

Participants can test spatial patterns and report statistically defensible findings.

• Spatial autocorrelation tested with Moran's I before interpreting clustered observations
• Hot Spot Analysis identifies statistically significant catch and incident clusters
• Global and local indicators distinguish broad patterns from local anomalies
• Regression diagnostics check residual spatial dependence and multicollinearity
• Geographically weighted regression explores location-specific drivers of production
• Results communicated with confidence intervals, caveats and decision implications

Participants can develop and evaluate species habitat suitability models from occurrence records.

• Species occurrence records cleaned for duplicates, coordinates and sampling bias
• Environmental predictors selected from depth, temperature, substrate and productivity layers
• MaxEnt models estimate relative habitat suitability from presence-only records
• Background points and regularisation settings documented for reproducible modelling
• Area-under-curve and omission rates evaluate predictive discrimination carefully
• Suitability outputs converted into survey priorities and management hypotheses

Participants can prepare zoning evidence that accounts for conservation and resource-use interests.

• Marine protected area objectives translated into spatial zones and measurable rules
• Marxan planning concepts compare conservation targets, costs and boundary lengths
• Stakeholder use areas mapped alongside biodiversity, livelihoods and enforcement constraints
• Conflict matrices identify overlaps among fishing, aquaculture, tourism and conservation
• Scenario maps test seasonal closures, buffer zones and access corridors
• Zoning plans record assumptions, trade-offs and consultation responses

Participants can communicate fisheries and aquaculture evidence through usable map products.

• Cartographic hierarchy directs attention to management decisions rather than decoration
• Colour schemes distinguish habitat classes, suitability ranks and uncertainty levels
• Map layouts include scale bars, north arrows, sources and projection notes
• Web maps publish controlled layers, pop-ups and filtered operational views
• Dashboard indicators connect maps with landings, compliance and water-quality trends
• Accessible exports support briefings, reports and low-bandwidth field distribution

Participants can establish quality and governance controls for sensitive spatial data.

• Quality-control checks detect null values, invalid codes and coordinate outliers
• Versioning procedures preserve authoritative layers and documented edit histories
• Role-based access controls protect sensitive grounds, farms and personal data
• Data-sharing agreements specify purpose, retention, attribution and permitted reuse
• Reproducible workflows record parameters, scripts and processing dates
• Update schedules assign custodians, review cycles and archive procedures

Participants can plan a practical GIS project from problem definition through maintenance.

• Problem statements define users, decisions, geography, timeframe and success measures
• Work breakdown structures sequence data acquisition, analysis, review and publication
• Risk registers address cloud cover, missing data, confidentiality and field access
• Acceptance criteria specify accuracy, timeliness, format and interpretability requirements
• Stakeholder review plans establish checkpoints, sign-offs and change-control routes
• Implementation roadmaps assign resources, maintenance tasks and performance indicators

Participants can build, review and present a complete GIS and remote sensing project for a fisheries or aquaculture decision.

• Project brief selects a fisheries or aquaculture decision requiring spatial evidence
• Participants assemble documented datasets, metadata and a reproducible GIS workflow
• Analysis integrates remote sensing, field observations and decision criteria
• Map products communicate findings, uncertainty, assumptions and recommended actions
• Peer review tests technical quality, usability and management relevance
• Presentation defends methods, results and an implementation plan