Potential Application of Geographic Information System (GIS) in Reservoir Fisheries

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is a computer based system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analysing and displaying spatial data on the Earth. Reservoirs are man-made ecosystem established by impounding water of river for storing and supplying water, irrigation, generation of hydro-electric power, flood control, and fish production. Fisheries in reservoirs might be affected by productivity, prey/predator abundance, or physical features of water and habitat However, modelling of these relationships could be difficult due to the dynamic natures of aquatic ecosystems.GIS is an important tool for analysing these multidimensional spatial patterns and evaluating the impacts on reservoir fisheries. Some of other applications of GIS in reservoir fisheries are classifying and mapping of suitable habitats and potential fishing grounds; monitoring water quality, pollution, fish movement, water level fluctuations; mapping fish distribution and water parameters; and change detection and monitoring in shorelines. GIS assists fisheries managers and decision-makers to elucidate the issues and makes solutions possible by considering numerous spatial components. There is an unlimited potential to use GIS in applications for fisheries management in reservoirs. GIS makes significant contributions to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks and sustainable use of water resources in reservoirs. GIS has great potential for modelling fish distribution, abundance, habitat, estimating future capacity, and evaluation of the useful life of reservoirs. This potential could be improved by increasing the opportunities of education, experience and access on available GIS technology and data among fisheries scientists.