USING GIS IN FLOODPLAIN FISHERIES MANAGEMENT: THE CASE OF THE OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA

摘要

Inland fisheries, especially those in flood pulse systems, are key livelihood resources for riparian communities. Therefore, management of these is fundamental for ensuring that the resources are utilized sustainably for future generations. GIS applications are a novel approach for floodplain fisheries management, especially in the Okavango Delta. This approach facilitates the modelling of spatially varying relationships between fishery and related environmental factors. Spatial analysis of fisheries data allows for identification of locations of concern that might require immediate management intervention. Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) was used to further elucidate some of the patterns in fish productivity across the Delta as a function of environmental variability. Results revealed spatial variability in fish relative biomass where panhandle habitats were less productive than lower delta areas.