Formulation of Periodic Atlas of Structured Information of Fisheries Resources

D. A. Quadir
Bangladesh Space Research and Remote Sensing Organization (SPARRSO), Agargaon, Sher-e-Banglanagar, Dhaka-1207
Bangladesh.

1. Introduction

Geographic Information System (GIS) is a tool for creating and managing the computerized data base of spatially referenced data. GIS provides the facilities of geographic analysis of these data and produces high quality cartographic products. The hard copy output of the raw and processed products are then used by the users for planning and development.

In this paper, the discussions have been made on the formulation of Periodic Atlas of Structured Information on the Fisheries Resources where GIS can play a vital role. This paper will provide some outlines on the data base structure related to fisheries application as an introduction of the subject for subsequent discussions. It is anticipated that results of the mutual interactions among the participating experts on fisheries will facilitate the formulation of such atlas.

2. Data base structure

The GIS data base for the Fisheries Atlas may have two types of data: one is the statistical data corresponding to the administrative units, eg. districts, thanas; and the other is the spatial data having land-use or land feature units or line and point information lying with such administrative boundaries.

2.1 Data base relative to administrative boundaries.

Chowdhury and Quadir (1993) have discussed the tree structure of the national data base where the country (Bangladesh) is the root and the branches are regions, districts, thanas, municipalities, unions and mouzas. The data base consists of the boundaries of the administrative units and a relational data base describing the socio-economy and resources of the respective units may be created according to the need of the development activities. In the above structure of the data base, mouzas are the lowest selectable entity. However, for fisheries applications thanas may be considered as the lowest selectable entity.

The sources of data for the thanas and districts are BBS, Fisheries Department, field survey, etc.

The spatial data of the administrative boundaries are the following:

- International boundary
- District boundary
- Thana boundary
- Municipal boundary

GIS structure of the data base

ID	Feature type	Class
120	arc	international boundary
130	arc	district boundary
140	arc	thana boundary
150	arc	municipal boundary

Coverage type: polygon

Each polygon represents thana and will be given a unique ID. Some examples of thana wise attribute data are given below:

- Names of Thanas and municipalities

- Fish production (yearly)

- Fisheries development budgets

- Values of the fisheries development works (yearly)

- Number of ponds

- Area of perennial water bodies

- Quantity of insecticides and toxic materials used which might be hazardous to fisheries ecology

- Volume of water

- Number of fish farms, production capacity and management status (poor, medium and good)

2.2 Transportation network data base

The transportation network data base structure is given below.

Data base structure

ID	Feature type	Feature class
310	arcs	Feeder road
320	arcs	Highways
400	arcs	Rail-lines
500	arcs	River transports

Coverage type: line coverage

2.3 Point data base

The point data base will have the location of the features of the following categories which are important from the fisheries point of view.

- Markets
- Ice plants
- Fish frozen/preservation facilities
- Fish processing plants
- Hatcheries
- etc.

Data base structure

ID Feature type	Feature class
10 point	Market
20 point	Ice plant
30 point	Fish preservation/refreezaration facility
40 point	Fish processing plant
50 point	Hatchery
60 point	Pollution sources

Coverage type: point coverage

2.4 Environment and ecology data base

Water resources:

- River network
- Close water bodies (lakes and ponds)
- Irrigated areas
- Inland water quality (chemical, physical, biological)

Geomorphology:

- Elevation
- Inundation type (depth and duration)
- Soil classes (chemistry, permeability, texture, compactness)

Landuse

- Agriculture
- Fisheries
- Forest
- Fallow/Land availability Coastal environment:
- Shrimp culture areas
- Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
- Turbidity
- Phytoplankton distribution

Climate:

- Rainfall
- Temperature
- Humidity

The data base structure of the above data base is to be worked out. Such a data base is a very complex one where each item has many coverages.

For preparation of Fisheries Atlas it is necessary to define what kind of information are to be incorporated there. The input data and the nature of processing will solely depend on this.

3. Conclusions

At this stage it is not possible to draw any specific conclusion. The line of action to formulate the periodic atlas of structured information of fisheries resources is to be defined. The data required for this purpose is to be located and gathered. A combined use of remote sensing and GIS technology will facilitate the job to a great extent. It is to be mentioned that it is a big task and will require enough technical and financial resources.

4. Bibliographic references

Chowdhury A. M. and D. A. Quadir 1993 Data-base Management and Geographic Information System (GIS): Monitoring Adjustment and Poverty in Bangladesh (CIRDAP Project), Report submitted to CIRDAP, Bangladesh.