Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

MAN-MADE FISHERIES RESOURCE MAPPING OF RATNAGIRI DISTRICT USING REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM

P.C. Lokhande, M.M. Shirdhankar, M.J. Gitte, K.J. Chaudhari and M.S. Sawant

Abstract

The present study envisages use of Remote Sensing and Geographical information System to map the manmade fisheries resources such as landing centres, fish markets, and fisherman co-operative societies and fisheries related organizations of Ratnagiri district. Man-made fisheries resources were identified and mapped using land cover pattern of the area. The maps of various fisheries resources of Ratnagiri district were prepared using digital satellite Image of IRS P6 LISS III and LISS IV (only for Ratnagiri block) and Landsat –Multispecteal scanner, the Enhaced Thematic mapper plus (ETM+) images of the study area. The software used for remote sensing was ERDAS 9.1 and for GIS was Arc Map 10.1 software. Almost 49 fish landing centre were observed along the 167 km coastline of Ratnagiri district. The 81 numbers of fisherman co-operative societies were observed in Ratnagiri district of which 79 were in marine sector and two were in fresh water sector. Altogether 81 fish markets, nine fisheries related organizations observed in Ratnagiri district were mapped.