Geo-Spatial Tools for Science-Based Management of Inland Aquatic Habitats and Conservation of Fish Genetic Resources

Abstract

Inland fisheries resources are vital for the human community and contribute to the development of a particular region. However, inland water bodies are highly dynamic, surrounded by terrestrial ecosystems, and face multiple threats from various anthropogenic stressors. Hence, the conservation and management of aquatic resources are becoming formidable which require the use of geo-spatial technologies for evidence-based scientific management of their habitats and fish genetic resources. The applications of geo-spatial tools are well acknowledged in data-scarce regions and in the field of natural resource management where the decision can be made based on the outputs arising from limited scientific assumptions. The remote sensing (RS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) based habitat characterization of inland water bodies, viz., inventory, monitoring of water spread and quality, habitat risk and suitability mapping, habitat prediction, and connectivity assessment is getting momentum in recent times, and incorporation of field exploration data with landscape information derived from geo-spatial tools enhance our understanding on aquatic habitats. The applications of geo-spatial models enhanced the potential of ecosystem service quantification and conservation planning in inland aquatic habitats. The demonstration of RS and GIS applications at a larger landform scale in inland open water bodies is necessary to illustrate its potential for science-based management of inland aquatic habitats for the conservation of fish genetic resources.