Spatial Planning of Shrimp Farming in the Patos Lagoon Estuary (Southern Brazil): An Integrated Coastal Management Approach

Abstract

In recent years, aquaculture has been growing all over the world. In the estuarine region of Patos Lagoon (southern Brazil), small pilot shrimp farms are being developed by the Mariculture Laboratory at the FURG. Despite its current growth, environmental information on the appropriate places for its development and expansion is lacking, making it a high-risk activity. In this study, GIS tools are used to identify the most appropriate aquatic sites for small shrimp farms and present a methodological approach for the spatial planning of aquaculture in the Patos Lagoon Estuary. The main criteria taken into account are accessibility, proximity of fishing villages, distance from pollution sources, salinity, bathymetry and legal constraints. An integrated analysis of these parameters using spatial analysis techniques is carried out. This powerful method brings together a variety of data for decision-making in aquaculture. The result is a continuous surface ranging from the least suitable to the most suitable places for shrimp farming. This information will be useful in the decision-making process for guiding aquaculture planning and informing stakeholders in order to appropriately develop and manage the coast in this area.