Resource information
The FAO Inland Water Resources and Aquaculture Service (FIRI) has been active in promoting the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing in fisheries and aquaculture since 1985. However, a manual to use along with GIS software for the fisheries biologists in the field explaining GIS in a way that is understandable to non-GIS users had not been produced until now. This manual was written to overcome this knowledge-gap, it is a “do-it-yourself-manual” giving a short introduction to GIS software and its applications in fishery science. The overall objective of this manual is to encourage fishery managers to use GIS to foster the sustainable use of natural resources. It is aimed at fisheries biologists, aquatic resource managers and decision makers in developing countries who have no knowledge about GIS. The manual is useful for a broad range of fishery applications. Although the manual by no means covers all possibilities of GIS, it touches upon some of the most important features for fisheries management and planning.