Site selection for fish farming using integrated GIS-spatial multi-criteria evaluation and carrying capacity approaches: case study of M'diq bay, Morocco

Abstract

Environmental protection has become one of the major concerns of the globe population. Thus, anthropic activities require the establishment and the implementation of sustainable principals and best practices' guides (UNDP, 2011; Messerli et al., 2019). Being one of the highly emerging activities with an accelerating expansion around the world over the last decades (FAO, 2020) and as an essential key to global food security (Luca & Damvakeraki, 2015; Gimpel et al., 2018), marine aquaculture has

GIS-Based Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) Methods for Aquaculture Site Selection: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…According to studies reviewed in this paper, it was found that 65% of papers have focused on selecting potential sites for fish farming, indicating that it is the most popular form of aquaculture. These studies have identified potential sites for a variety fish species, including Sparus aurata [22,27,28], a warm-water fish native to the Mediterranean Sea that is highly valued in the aquaculture industry due to its fast growth rate, high market demand, and adaptability to different environments. Other fish species for which potential farming sites have been identified include Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) [19], pangasius [15], carp [21], sturgeon [29], seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) [22,27] and Tilapia, the latter of which has been the subject of three different studies [23,30,31].…”

“…These studies have identified potential sites for a variety fish species, including Sparus aurata [22,27,28], a warm-water fish native to the Mediterranean Sea that is highly valued in the aquaculture industry due to its fast growth rate, high market demand, and adaptability to different environments. Other fish species for which potential farming sites have been identified include Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) [19], pangasius [15], carp [21], sturgeon [29], seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) [22,27] and Tilapia, the latter of which has been the subject of three different studies [23,30,31]. Tilapia is a freshwater fish species that is widely farmed due to its fast growth rate and high adaptability.…”

“…In addition, other parameters that can impact water quality or fish growth and survival; bathymetry, currents, and waves height have also been considered as essential parameters in the selection of potential aquaculture sites [8,19,28]. Other parameters, such as seabed composition, wave exposure [38], and tidal amplitude [6,27], which have been used only by one or two authors, have been excluded from the proposed model. Similar to the fish aquaculture model, four sub-models were identified for shellfish aquaculture (Figure 9).…”

Application of the Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Electromagnetic (EM34-3) Geophysical Tools and Sedimentology for the Evaluation of the Subsurface of Sites Earmarked for Aquaculture Ponds in the Amazon Region of Northern Brazil

“…Fish farming can contribute to the domestic output of fishery products, provide an important source of income for many smallholders, other landowners and their local communities, through their direct involvement in the value chain (production, processing, and sale), as well as offering employment opportunities [3,4]. Aquaculture and fisheries are the fastest-growing food production systems around the world and their importance for food security and global nutrition in the twenty-first century is recognized increasingly by authorities such as [5][6][7].…”

“…The selection of an appropriate site is fundamentally important here and adequate site selection will reduce the possible environmental impacts of the operation and the potential conflicts of this activity with the use of other resources and the sustainable development of aquaculture activities [6,7,10]. This will also guarantee an increase in economic returns [11][12][13].…”