Geographic Information Systems in Fisheries

Chapter 2: Challenges of Using Geographic Information Systems in Aquatic Environments

Geoff J. Meaden

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781888569575.ch2

It is pertinent to commence this chapter with some definitions. In keeping with the substance of the book, “aquatic environments” will be confined to the watery milieus associated with fish or fisheries, though these could be both natural environments (marine, lacustrine, or riverine) or artificial environments (for aquaculture or mariculture). Though a “challenge” might seem to be an obvious concept, in view of its wide range of meanings, discussion here is limited to “difficulties that stimulate interest or effort.” In the combined case of “fisheries” and “aquatic environments,” it is likely that the sum of difficulties will be rather large. It is further clear that there is a sense in which “challenges” have both negative and positive connotations. Though it is the intention to accentuate the latter, if this chapter engenders a catalog of problems, then apologies are advanced! The challenges certainly are being approached in a spirit of giving pointers to achieving the possible, though it also will be made clear that they constitute a wide range of considerations and problems. Finally, in terms of definitions, there are areas of “challenge” that, although vital to the future of the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in fisheries science or management, cannot be considered because they are at the boundary of the overall theme. These include functional and technical areas such as database models and database management, image analysis, hardware and software use and implications, plus copyright factors, as well as human areas such as the retention of highly skilled workers within the research ambience and the acceptance of GIS as a legitimate and useful technology.