GIS-based aquaculture site suitability study using multi-criteria evaluation approach

摘要

The present study identifies and quantifies appropriate sites for aquaculture development in the mid/high Himalayan region of Uttarakhand using remote sensing and geographical information system (GIS). The GIS has an increasingly important role in management and utilisation of natural resources, particularly in fisheries resource assessment and management. Aquaculture has become one of the fastest growing food industries in the world. For aquaculture development in the region, the importance of each parameter of soil quality, water quality and infrastructure facilities were accessed using analytical hierarchical process. Various thematic layers were prepared for categorising suitable aquaculture sites based on three sub-models viz., soil quality, water quality and infrastructure facilities. The site suitability map for aquaculture development was prepared for Betalghat Block. of Nainital District, Uttarakhand. The total area suitable for aquaculture development was computed as most suitable (8426 ha forming 27%); moderately suitable (5623 ha forming 18%) and not suitable (198 ha forming 1%) with constraints of forest cover and infrastructure facilities of around 16617 ha (54%) of the total land area