Satellite Fish Forecasting in South China Sea

Fish forecasting technology has been applied successfully in many countries. However, most of the forecasting methods used in temperate water were unsuitable to be applied in this region. A fish forecasting model suitable to tropical environment has to be developed. This major project involving several objectives and phases to meet the goal of developing a satellite-based fishery forecasting system in the South China Sea is aimed at supporting the national aspirations of developing an efficient offshore fishery. More importantly, it is aimed at providing the basis for alternate ways towards meeting sustainable harvest of fishery resources. The project is now complete, with most of the major objectives met. Project deliverables include an efficient extraction algorithm of sea surface temperature from AVHRR satellite data which includes an automatic geocoding and cloud masking. Model for extracting ocean colour from SeaWifs was also developed. Based from the multi criteria analysis of these oceanographic conditions, a model suitable for the determination of potential fishing zone in tropical water has been developed. This model is then incorporated into a decision support tool referred as the Tropical Fish Forecasting System (TroFFS). TroFFS is a straight forward and easy to learn software tool that will allow user to process and forecast the potential fishing zone. TroFFS builds upon remote sensing and GIS technology by incorporating aspects of PCI’s EASI/PACE and ArcView. In an additional capacity, TroFFS can also be used to detect the warm temperature front and the boundaries of upwelling areas. It is best for the prediction of fishing grounds formed by t he oceanographic phenomenon. TroFFS is a cost-effective geomatics system designed specifically for fish forecasting in tropical waters. TroFFS combines remote sensing and spatial analysis functionality with user-guided fish forecasting processes within a fully customizable and expandable environment. The system can be integrated with the ground satellite receiving that enabling real time fish forecasting and further developed into the National Fish Forecasting System.