Newsletter n. 6
July, 2015
ECOSEA
Project Code 2°ord./0236/0
Geographic Information System FISH.GIS
Introduction
The GIS (Geographic Information Systems) are technical information tools developed to
manage data and information with spatial references. The GIS combines the administrative
functions of a database with analytical tools by adding technologies for geographic analysis
and production of computerized cartography. The data organized in information layers
(layers and tables) are stored in digital form, often within territorial databases (or
geodatabases - GeoDB), and can be managed and presented through Desktop Applications
or WEB services.
The potentials of GIS systems express themselves at their best in highlighting spatial
relationships among data, or in performing statistical calculations linked to the territory, or
in allowing a clear and intuitive display of archived data. The combination of these features
makes the GIS tools especially suited to provide support in decision-making processes of
planning and programming.
The creation of WebGis applications offers the chance to provide, with extreme simplicity
to a potentially infinite audience, representations of spatial data. The WebGis makes it
possible for anyone in possession of an internet connection to quickly consult maps and
data, presented in an optimized form for a clear and comprehensible viewing. Ultimately
these systems are a flexible and powerful platform, that can help reduce the distance
between citizens and government, providing data available to technical and non-technical
staff - interested in particular issues concerning the territory.
Conditions for the application of GIS to fisheries
The management of marine environments requires a precise definition of perimeters and
areas, described in detail by specific physical and biological distinguishing features , as well
as the specific use of these areas in order to make it possible to use them to cope with the
required needs (fishing, aquaculture, navigation, conservation, etc.). This complex
information needs more and more sufficient technological support to make it possible to
better manage the interdependence of economic and environmental processes permitting
an adequate policy and governance.
This need to manage complexity is of particular importance for the Adriatic Sea, where
various activities share a limited amount of space due to the limited size of the basin which
is, among other things, conditioned by various countries that overlook it. The fisheries and
mariculture activities therefore, constantly interact with other interests: protected areas and
safeguard zones, regulated areas, shipping lanes, the presence of mining facilities or
pipelines, hazardous areas, military areas and everything else. These are complex
interactions that can be summarized, however, through specific thematic displays on a map
and can also effectively combine biological data of fish species and trade-economic
-2information collected from the Adriatic fleets.
A Gis about fishery aims at encompassing all this information in a single container which
also offers the advantage of being "navigable" in graphic format and makes it possible to
have, in return, cartography that can be personalized according to the needs of the
moment.
The characteristics of FISH.GIS
For the development of the GIS system of the project Ecosea, ARPA Friuli Venezia Giulia has
chosen to rely solely on open source software (PostGIS-Qgis-LizMap), i.e. under a free
license, without the cost of purchasing licenses that are often expensive. The savings in
license costs have been partially devolved to training, by some code developers , on the
products used by the staff involved in the implementation of the webgis portal. The project
will become an opportunity to show that, at the current state, the products adopted are
now so mature as to be able to compete on equal terms with proprietary systems.
Most data come directly from the project partners, each of whom has been involved in
gathering information of their own maritime spaces, who have contacted several institutions
and research facilities and who have provided the details of previous projects and studies
or scientific publications about fishing. Almost all the layers of information were made
specifically for Ecosea.
This mosaic of information has gone through a process of harmonization to yield data on
the scale of the Adriatic basin.
At the end of the development process the geodatabase FishGis will contain:
Geomorphological and administrative data base:
• Coastlines
• Administrative boundaries
• Sea bottom sedimentology
• Bathymetry of the seabed/sea bottom
Data on fishing activities and regulations along with data on availability and on the
conservation of the resource:
• Ports and associated fishing fleet
• Protected areas
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Restrictions on fishing
Restrictions of various kinds
Military or unloading explosives areas;
Mariculture zone
Water classification
Biocoenosis
Artificial reefs for restocking
Distribution of seagrasses/marine pharenogams
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Sediment discharge sites
Subsea pipelines
Wrecks
Areas covered by specific studies related to fishing
Distribution of commercial fish stocks (Sepia officinalis, Illex coindetii, Loligo vulgaris,
Squilla mantis, Nephrops norvegicus, Sardina pilchardus, Engranulis encrasicolus,
Merlangius merlangus, Merluctus merlucius, Pagelius erythrinus, Mullus barbatus. Eledone
moschata, Trachurus trachurus, Sprattus sprattus).
Achievements of FISH.GIS
The data was collected by each single partner who was given guidelines to allow him to
produce the information in a format that was
standardized as much as possible. All
partners have worked in parallel, providing the data in “packets” according to a schedule
that had been agreed on.
ARPA Friuli Venezia Giulia was responsible for the design of the flow of data and their
insertion in a geodatabase, it worked through the stages of training and co-ordination of
partners and worked for the cataloguing of information within the database. Usually almost
all the data provided by the partners have undergone a partial reorganization necessary
aimed at optimizing their use within the preset IT structure.
We are currently preparing a test version , distributed through the web, which allows the
display of information directly on common browsers (Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera,
Internet
Explorer).
The final result will be similar to Google maps but focused on the issues of fishing and
centered on the geographic region of the Adriatic basin. Surfing the map will be associated
to data query through "pop-ups" (windows or frames) that will appear by selecting the item
for which you want to obtain information.
In addition to viewing the maps online, printing services of the territorial extensions
displayed will be made available, these will be exportable in accordance with models
designed for different needs.
The distribution of the data is also going to be possible through OGC services such as WMS
(images) and WFS (in vector format) depending on the specific needs of the users.
At the end of the project, a considerable/significant amount of USB sticks, loaded with the
geographic data of the project, is going to be distributed thus allowing anybody suitably
equipped with a PC and a GPS to navigate on the thematic maps.
-4Concluding observations
The WebGIS for the management of fishery resources of the Adriatic has been developed
with the aim of allowing an overview of environmental and administrative information and
protection of the territory which outline fishing activities developing along -coastline of the
coastal countries and regions of the Northern Adriatic. With the intention of pursuing this
objective ARPA Friuli Venezia Giulia, on behalf of the Region Friuli Venezia Giulia, has
structured a specific geographic information system which makes it possible to compare
the information gathered, information originally produced for purposes that can also be
different from those of fishing management and which provides a reference tool, that is
very easy to use, for information on the environment in which fishing operates .
This tool is essential for the presentation of the state of fish stocks and the regulation
applied to fishing, and can generate a remarkable return in terms of overall awareness of
the operators in this field and of information that can be readily usable in the drafting of
management plans on the scale of the Adriatic basin.
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