Detection of Squid and Pacific Saury fishing vessels around Japan using VIIRS Day/Night Band image

Yang Liu,Toru Hirawake,Sei-Ichi Saitoh

doi:10.7125/apan.39.3

Abstract

The Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite, which carries a new Day/Night Band (DNB) radiometer, has very high sensitivity to observe anthropogenic light emission sources, especially on the activity of maritime vessels. This study applied DNB images to detect fishing vessel by three case species in Northwest Pacific ocean (Neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii), Japanese common squid (Todarodes pacificus), and Pacific saury (Cololabis saira)). The results of fishing positions and distribution were well validated using location reported data by fisherman. The more application of DNB data could be used to estimate the numbers of fishing vessels, vessel speed from Vessel Monitoring System (VMS), and combined traditional fishing grounds, season time, habits and water temperature to distinguish the fishing species. The DNB data could form the basis for future fisheries management and information system.

Highlights

Fisheries and aquaculture is a source not just of health and of wealth for human being
We examine the ability of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) to detect fishing vessel lights for three ecomically important species in Northwest Pacific: Neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii), Japanese common squid (Todarodes pacificus), and Pacific saury (Cololabis saira)
The Neon flying squid population is comprised of two seasonal spawning cohorts, which migrate between their spawning grounds in the subtropical waters (20 ̊N –30 ̊N) and feeding grounds in the subarctic waters (40 ̊N –50 ̊N)

Summary

Introduction

Fisheries and aquaculture is a source not just of health and of wealth for human being. Satellite low–light imaging provides a unique capability to observe vessels using light for fishing at night. These observations show promise for improved understanding of fisheries over time through monitoring fishing vessels positions [3, 4]. This capability was originally described in the 1970’s for data collected by the Operational Linescan System (OLS), flown by the U.S Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) [5, 6]. None of the studies published to date had any validation data

Methods

Results

Conclusion