Oyster Aquaculture Site Selection Using High-Resolution Remote Sensing: A Case Study in the Gulf of Maine, United States

Abstract

Aquaculture of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, is an expanding industry in the US, particularly in the Gulf of Maine. High resolution ocean color satellites launched in the last decade potentially provide aquaculture-relevant water-quality parameters at farm scales. However, these parameters, such as temperature, suspended particulate matter (SPM), and Chlorophyll a (Chl a), need to be derived by interested users. Water quality parameters are derived first by applying an atmospheric correction and then estimating the target parameter with a specific algorithm. Here, we use five atmospheric correction schemes and two algorithms to derive SPM and Chl a from the Sentinel 2A&B satellites’ multispectral instrument data. The best estimates of SPM and Chl a are determined by comparison with in situ observations from buoys. Together with SST from Landsat-8, we estimated an Oyster Suitability Index (OSI) along the transects in five estuaries in the Gulf of Maine as well as applied a novel particulate organic matter algorithm, a function of Chl a and SPM in low turbidity estuaries. We then apply the optimal approaches to derive water quality parameters to study five different estuaries in Maine and find that existing high-yield oyster aquaculture farms are found in areas with elevated OSI values. Additionally, we suggest new areas, currently under-exploited, where oyster aquaculture is likely to succeed, showcasing the utility of the approach.

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

“…In addition to the available geophysical tools, which have their own physical properties, a number of other potential methods based on geotechnology are available [11], which have been integrated with other approaches (e.g., the AHP, ANP, and MCDM methods), to identify the sites most appropriate for inland aquaculture [12,20,21,[78][79][80][81][82]]. An integrated approach of this type was applied to select sites for fish farming in M'diq Bay in Morocco [6].…”

“…Over the past three decades, a number of studies have described the use of different types of geotechnology, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), and digital cartography, for the selection of sites for aquaculture ponds [18]. Remote Sensing (RS) and GIS are considered to be important tools for the evaluation of areas destined for aquaculture (e.g., [19][20][21]).…”

Evaluation of the Pacific oyster marine aquaculture suitability in Shandong, China based on GIS and remote sensing

“…The weight value for each factor was obtained through a literature review and experts' opinions (Radiarta et al, 2008, Radiarta et al, 2011Saitoh et al, 2011;Cho et al, 2012;Liu et al, 2013Liu et al, , 2014Aura et al, 2016;Snyder et al, 2017;Barilléet al, 2020;Liu et al, 2020a;Jiang et al, 2022). Environmental factors such as SST, Chl-a, TSS, SO, DO, and Bathymetry were commonly considered.…”

Planning and licensing for marine aquaculture

“…261 EO can provide spatial maps and time-series of parameters such as temperature, chlorophyll, and total suspended solids, with considerable scope for use among planning and licensing frameworks to identify potential aquaculture zones and new sites. [262][263][264][265] For extractive species (e.g., mussels and oysters) that are reliant on the natural environment for food, EO is particularly useful for site scoping to provide a comprehensive overview of heterogeneous conditions within a bay or along a coastline. Thus, EO data can provide useful inputs to growth models to evaluate the spatial variation in potential sites, 262 or combined with other factors within GISbased models for aquaculture planning and management, 114 as shown by Barillé et al 117 However, for aquaculture and coastal management more broadly, there are still challenges in using EO, such as cloud cover and atmospheric correction, as reviewed by McCarthy et al 266 In situ data collection is rapidly evolving, particularly using new technology such as real-time sensors that monitor conditions (e.g., sea temperature and dissolved oxygen variability 267 ) that can be reviewed via mobile phones and computer at any time, and many parts of the aquaculture sector are developing techniques useful for daily operations.…”

“…Earth observation (EO) is becoming increasingly important as a source of data to support monitoring of environmental conditions and planning and management of aquaculture at different spatial scales and resolutions 261 . EO can provide spatial maps and time‐series of parameters such as temperature, chlorophyll, and total suspended solids, with considerable scope for use among planning and licensing frameworks to identify potential aquaculture zones and new sites 262–265 . For extractive species (e.g., mussels and oysters) that are reliant on the natural environment for food, EO is particularly useful for site scoping to provide a comprehensive overview of heterogeneous conditions within a bay or along a coastline.…”