The future of fisheries science in management: a remote-sensing perspective

Earth observation from satellites offers vast potential for fisheries applications, including management of marine resources, stock assessment, marine aquaculture, and fish harvesting. One of the most promising avenues for the use of satellite data for fisheries science in management lies in quantifying objectively the variables that result in large and small year classes of exploited stocks. The influence of fluctuations in the availability of food in the critical period of larval stages can be investigated through the application of ecological indicators describing the variability of the pelagic ecosystem at a given time and place. These indices can increase our understanding of the relationship between ecosystem factors and the recruitment of key species. Despite the many demonstration applications published to date, little use is being made of satellite data to support fisheries science in management. We discuss some of the obstacles that lie in the way of the operational use of satellite data and suggest actions that could facilitate its broader application.