Geographic Information Systems in Fisheries

Chapter 5: Geographic Information Systems Applications in Lake Fisheries

Carolyn N. Bakelaar, Peter Brunette, Paul M. Cooley, Susan E. Doka, E. Scott Millard, Charles K. Minns, and Heather A. Morrison

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781888569575.ch5

Geographic information systems (GIS) have emerged as a pivotal technology in the scientific study and management of renewable natural resources. Early evolution and applications of the technology centered on terrestrial resources (forestry, land-use planning, and wildlife). The next phase added rivers and streams, largely in the context of watershed analysis, modeling, and planning (see Chapter 3). The current phase of growth, finally, is encompassing lakes and oceans. This sequence of events has been shaped to some extent by the “visibility” of the ecosystems being mapped. In contrast to the terrestrial situation, our inability to “see” (directly observe or view) all parts of aquatic ecosystems, especially the deeper portions, has posed many challenges. Advances in remote-sensing technology (light, infrared, laser, and radar) are increasing our ability to penetrate the murky depths. The sophistication of acoustic technology, coupled with global positioning systems (GPS) for transect and swath mapping of biota and habitat features, and with radiotelemetry for tracking the movements of biota, can be combined with GIS to enhance our understanding and management of lake fish resources.

Scientific knowledge and understanding of renewable natural resource systems expanded in the 20th century with the realization that the spatial properties of ecosystems and their biota were important. The rapid growth of computer hardware and software in the last 25 years has spawned, in turn, the development of highly capable and user-friendly GIS. This new technology tended, at first, to be used to perform tasks in the “old” ways, for example, marking sampling locations and transects on maps. Now, as familiarity with GIS is increasing, new ways of storing, analyzing, and visualizing data are emerging that take fuller advantage of the technology. Geographic information systems now allow spatial aspects to be explicitly integrated with other natural resource concerns (e.g., the behavior and physiology of organisms, modeling ecosystem processes). These technical developments are rapidly enabling information needs to be met for aquatic ecosystem science and management.