International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, Vol XXXV, Part B7. Istanbul 2004 
The accuracy achieved is about 85 per cent. The branching coral, 
massive coral, healthy and bleached coral have distinct spectral 
characteristics. However, their distinction using remote sensing 
data has not been very successful. 
3.4 Protected Areas 
Many ecologically fragile areas are designated as ‘Protected 
Areas’ to preserve and conserve such ecosystems. However, it is 
not known, how much area will be sufficient for conserving 
biodiversity in vital/critical habitats, such as mangroves, coral 
reefs and wetlands. It is necessary to monitor these areas to assess 
impact of conservation measures as well as anthropogenic 
activities. The repetitive coverage of the IRS satellites is quite 
adequate for monitoring such changes. In one such study, in the 
Marine National Park, Jamnagar, on the Gujarat coast significant 
changes in the mangrove vegetation and coral reef area were 
observed during the period 1975 to 2000 (Nayak et al. 1989, 
Nayak and Bahuguna, 2001). Degradation and loss of both 
ecosystems continued till 1985 on account of mining of coralline 
sand and use of mangroves as fuel and fodder. The loss of coastal 
habitats is a direct measure of declining condition of biodiversity 
in coastal habitats. Hence, In 1983, this area was declared as a 
marine park (protected area). Extensive measures were initiated 
for conservation of mangrove and coral reef areas by the marine 
park authorities. This resulted in reversing the trend of 
degradation after 1985 and has certainly helped towards restoring 
the environment (Fig. 4). However, recent industrialisation, 
development of ports, etc. have again put these ecosystems under 
stress, as evident from recent satellite data. Remote sensing data 
has been proved to be extremely useful for routine monitoring of 
the protected areas. 
Status of Coastal Habitats of Marine 
National Park, Gulf of Kachchh (using 
300 
satellite data) 
    
  
19750 1198619931 99820008 
—O- Total mangroves 
—"Sparse mangroves *“— Reef. 
    
=O Dense mangroves 
Mud over reef 
       
Fig. 4..Syatus of coastal ecosystems in the Marine National Park, 
Gulf of Kachchh, India. 
3.5 Marine Fishery 
Marine living resources provide animal protein requirement of 
human being. Fishing and aquaculture are major source of 
employment and economically very important, especially in 
developing countries. The assessment of stock: is one of the 
important activities for conserving the marine living resources. 
India has high potential for marine fisheries development. The 
present fish production in the country is mainly from the coastal 
waters (up to depth of 50 m). An improved knowledge of 
identification of marine living resources in EEZ is required to 
harness full potential of commercial fishery. Phytoplankton forms 
the first link in the ocean food chain and gives an indication about 
the standing stock of green biomass, which helps in predicting the 
third level productivity. Today, satellite-based observing systems 
having narrow spectral bands in the visible region are providing 
better insight into our understanding of the ocean productivity. 
They also provide better understanding of the role played by 
ocean productivity in the uptake of carbon dioxide from 
atmosphere. 
IRS P4 Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) has been providing ocean 
colour data every two days for the Indian regions. The potential 
Fishing Zone (PFZ) maps are generated based on oceanographic 
features such as thermal boundaries, fronts, eddies, rings, gyres, 
meanders and up welling regions (Narain et al. 1992, Solanki et 
al. 2003). The chlorophyll and SST, derived from OCM and 
NOAA AVHRR have been integrated to provide fishery forecast 
to predict likely availability of fishes more accurately (Solanki et 
al. 1998, 2001, Dwivedi, et al. 2002). The ocean colour data 
provide information about the availability of food in a column. 
The SST defines the environment of the ocean. It was observed 
that wherever, the boundaries/fronts/gradients of the chlorophyll 
and SST coincide are ideal sites for the fish aggregation. Such 
sites are the indicate coupling between biological and physical 
processes, and hence fish tend to aggregate. These forecasts are 
valid for three days and are updated every second day. It was 
observed that this technique is quite useful for pelagic and 
demersal fishery (Fig. 5). In India, this technique is operationally 
used and forecasts are provided to about 240 fishing harbours 
routines by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information 
Service (INCOIS), Hyderabad. 
It was observed that such forecast are 70-90 per cent accurate 
results in 70-100 per cent increase in catch, both pelagic and 
demersal (Solanki et al. 2003). The benefit to cost ratio has 
increased from 1.3 to 2.1 for those fishermen who have used 
satellite-based fishery forecast (Nayak et al. 2002) The 
information on sea-surface wind is being integrated to increase of 
validity of forecast. Initial results indicate quite a good promise. 
Apart from this, new resources through sea ranching and mari- 
culture in enclosed and semi-enclosed bodies will have to be 
tapped. Efforts are continuing to predict primary productivity and 
link it to fish stock using ocean colour data. The bio-geographical 
zoning of the Indian waters is under progress. All these efforts 
will lead to achieve food self-sufficiency in developing countries. 
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