Application of GIS in the Study of Factors that Affect the Determination of Zones Apt for the Aquaculture in Two Coastal Areas of Gran Canaria

J.C. Elgue, N. González-Henríquez, O. Briz-Miquel Y I. Santana Ojeda

Departamento de Medio Litoral - Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas (ES)

The coastal zones have been and continue being, a focus of intense human activity. In the Canary Islands, this development has generated high impact on the ecosystems, as well as, a deterioration of natural resources. The degradation of these resources, along with limited physical space, generates a series of conflicts between the different sectors interested in the use of this means.

The sustainable development of marine aquaculture, as a controlled production system, should diminish the impact on the environment, acting on resources that are always shared by diverse actors.

The problem is in a correct allocation of the resources, reason why it's necessary a good management of the coastal areas.

The Government of the Canary Islands, Fisheries department, during 2002, established and accomplished of a detailed study of two areas of Gran Canaria island, since in this community there is a basic document on coastal management for the development of aquaculture zones (Zonas No Aptas).

The proposed zones for this study have been: Sardina: located between Punta Gorda and Punta de Sardina (T. M. Gáldar) and Arguineguín: located between Pasito Blanco and Anfi del Mar (T. M. San Bartolomé de Tirajana and T. M. de Mogán). This project undertakes the study of factors that affect the establishment of marine fish farms, combining data of currents and waves, sediments composition, studies of bentonic bionomy, water quality and dispersion models for nutrients, places of communitarian interest (LIC) and protected habitats, as well as the existing legislation and human activities in each area.

The evaluation phase and classification of each area, implies the study of parameters with the purpose to obtain a criterion of aptitude for each studied zone.

The primary objected consisted in the establishment of a capacity or aptitude cartography for each studied area that was used for the development of marine aquaculture (in sea cages), establishing a final classification for each area in apt, apt-conditional and non apt zones.
The totality of the work, refers to data sets, text and multimedia, which are included in a GIS with the purpose of being shared and allow that diverse users can accede to the data and enrich the existing data base. The system may include tools that allow new analyses, as well as the identification of new sources of data and information.
The organization of the data base has an classification in great subjects categories (physical environment, biological parameters, territorial management, etc.), that admits reorganization and inclusion of new information.

The system should be accessible via Internet, working as a repository of data for a varied range of users.

The metadata will be an integral part of the system, documenting each data set, following internationally accepted standards (e.g. ISO norms).

During the examination of the first results we have not found any formal impediments to extend this project to other coastal zones, the possible benefits of such action, promise to be encouraging.
Project SIGMARMAC, in phase of development in the ICCM within an initiative INTERREG III B (Azores-Madeira-Canary Islands), tries to extend the previous experiences and give a description of the advances up to date.