Utilizing GIS tools for ecosystem related mapping

Geographic information system (GIS) is a tool for making and using spatial information and it is mainly concerned with location of the features as well as properties/attributes of those features. It helps us gather, analyse and visualize spatial data for different purposes. A GIS quantifies the locations of features by recording their coordinates which are the numbers that describe the position of these features on Earth. The uniqueness of GIS is its ability to do spatial analysis. GIS helps us analyse the spatial relationships and interactions. Sometimes, GIS proves to be the only way to solve spatially-related problems and it is one of the most important tools that aid in decision making process. GIS basically helps to answer three questions; How much of what is where? What is the shape and extent of it? Has it changed over time

Applications of Geoinformatics in Fisheries and Natural Resource Management

Geoinformatics is the art, science or technology dealing with the acquisition, storage, processing production, presentation and dissemination of spatial data or the geoinformation. Geoinformatics has been extensively used in almost all the fields of study, be it natural sciences, social sciences, archaeology, surveying, marketing etc. and you name any field of study for that matter. It shows the importance of Geoinformatics in the present world. Geographic information system (GIS) is the platform on which spatial data is collected, stored, analysed and the information is extracted. The strength of GIS is its ability to integrate data from different sources and carryout spatial analysis to arrive at meaningful conclusions which otherwise would not be possible

Life Beyond Barriers

Life won’t always go as the way you want and due to the same reason, a few people succeed in life, while others not. It is very interesting to see how successful people tackle the problems of their life. When the lazy people find unconquerable barriers in life, successful people find it as challenges which could be overcome through diligent planning and confidence. This training session is intended to give the ‘Theeranaipunya - Equipping Fisherwomen Youth for Future’ trainees a few tips on how to manage a successful life

GIS applications in aquatic environment

Globally, on an average, GIS tools save billions of dollars annually in the delivery of goods and services through proper route planning. GIS regularly help in the day-to-day management of many natural and man-made resources, including sewer, water, power, and transportation networks. Applications of GIS in marine and coastal ecosystem study is an emerging field today. GIS help us identify and address environmental problems by providing crucial information on where problems occur and who are affected by them. It also helps us identify the source, location and extent of adverse environmental impacts. GIS enable us to devise practical plans for monitoring, managing, and mitigating environmental damage. Human impacts on the environment, conflicts in resource use, concerns about pollution, and precautions to protect public health have spurred a strong societal push for the adoption of GIS

Geo-informatics in Monitoring and Mapping of Marine Environment In: ICAR Sponsored Winter School on Recent Advances in Fishery Biology Techniques for Biodiversity Evaluation and Conservation, 1-21 December 2018, Kochi.

GIS has been extensively used in almost all the fields of study, be it natural sciences, social sciences, archaeology, surveying, marketing etc. and you name any field of study for that matter. It shows the importance of GIS in the present world. The strength of GIS is its ability to integrate data from different sources and carryout spatial analysis to arrive at meaningful conclusions which otherwise would not be possible. The following paragraphs throw some light on the basic concepts of GIS and how it could be used to analyse climate change (how the climate change has affected the SST over Barents Sea through the period 1891 to 2018 and to calculate Oceanic Niño Index (ONI)

Ecosystem-based aquaculture and environmental sustainability

The ecosystem approach to aquaculture (EAA) is the fruit of the discussions between the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and aquaculture experts around the world held in the 90s and 00s. The aim of the discussions were to device the ways to move the planning and management of aquaculture towards greater sustainability. The EAA was devised as a tool to support the implementation of the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (CCRF) and has helped to promote the sustainable exploitation of capture fisheries worldwide. The rapid growth of the aquaculture sector worldwide, and the interaction of aquaculture activities with other economic sectors and natural resource users, require a responsible and integrated approach to aquaculture development (FAO 2003; Garcia et al. 2003)

Mapping for taxonomic studies

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) play a crucial role in taxonomic studies and related research. One of the important applications is making location maps from where the samples have been collected. This helps visualize species distribution patterns, identify biodiversity hotspots, and track changes in distribution over time due to factors like climate change. By combining species occurrence data with environmental data (like water temperature, depth, salinity) in a GIS environment, researchers can create models that predict the suitability of habitats for specific species. This can guide targeted collection efforts and identify areas potentially harbouring different species. GIS also helps in designing marine protected areas (MPAs) by considering factors like species distribution, habitat types, and human activities. It can also be used to monitor the effectiveness of MPAs in protecting marine biodiversity. By overlaying species distribution data with geographic features like currents, oceanographic boundaries, and geological formations, GIS helps researchers understand the factors influencing biogeographic patterns in the marine environment. Moreover, GIS facilitates the integration of data from various sources, such as field surveys, remote sensing, and historical records. This promotes collaboration among researchers by allowing them to share and analyze data in a centralized platform. Thus, GIS plays a crucial role in advancing marine taxonomic studies by providing a powerful platform for data visualization, analysis, and modeling, leading to a better understanding of marine biodiversity and its distribution

In situ observation of scorpionfish in seagrass meadows of the Gulf of Mannar, India

The seagrass meadows of Sethukarai coast are unique in nature, housing high faunal diversity compared to other coastal areas. A rare live specimen of bandtail scorpionfish Scorpaenopsis neglecta was found near a burrow dug by an alpheid shrimp. Taxonomy, morphometric and meristic characters, adaptive, behavioural and colour-switching physiological camouflage trait of the S. neglecta are elaborated in this communication. Visual in situ documentation of feeding habits of scorpaenids and their preying behaviour, especially that of lionfish Pterois volitans preying on goby fish is presented. Mutualism exhibited by goby fish Amblyeleotris gymnocephala with the alpheid shrimp Alpheus rapax and the importance of habitat protection from anthropogenic activities are also discussed

Occurrence and Abundance of Phosphatase-Producing Bacteria in Mangrove Ecosystem

The study detailed the isolation and characterization of phosphatase producing bacteria (PPB) from rhizospheric, pneumatophoric and bulk sediments of Avicennia marina along Mumbai coast, India and also estimated alkaline phosphatase activity in sediment in addition to the Phosphatase enzymatic activity of isolates. The inorganic-organic nature of phosphorus was also examined. About, 42 PPB were isolated and identified from the sediment samples. 16S rDNA sequence revealed that all the isolates belong to the genus Bacillus except the one which belong to Geobacillus in the environment and B. anthracis str. Ames showed the phosphatase-producing activity of 84.11±0.01 µg p-NP released per 1×108 cfu in 72 hrs. The isolates, B. cereus strain APT23 and B. thuringiensis strain INRS4 showed the next best phosphatase activity. It was observed that PPB was very much abundant in A. marina mangroves. The pneumatophoric sediment showed significantly higher number of PPB with higher alkaline phosphatase activity, inorganic P and low organic P than those of other sediment types indicating that pneumatophoric region of A. marina harbours favourably the phosphatase-producers than the rhizospheric or bulk sediments and forms the first reference worldwide depicting this relationship. The isolates that showed higher phosphatase-producing potentials can be explored for using as phosphatic bio-fertilizer to enhance the agricultural, aquacultural and mangrove productivity on a larger scale

Socio-economic analysis of finfish culture in cages in coastal waters of Kerala, southwest coast of India

Cage culture of finfish is becoming a popular alternate source of livelihood in Vembanad Lake in Kerala, India. A study was conducted during November to December, 2016 to assess the socio-economic status of the farmers practicing cage culture in Kerala and the resultant economic benefits. Data on demographic features, farming activities, specific culture and farm management practices, economics and problems related to cage farming were collected from 36 active farmers of the Ernakulam District. Etroplus suratensis (Pearl spot), Lates calcarifer (Asian sea bass), and Genetically Improved Farm Tilapia (GIFT) were the major species culture