GPS ‐Based Identification of Fishing Grounds in a Coastal Trawl Fishery: An Integrated Pilot Study From Jizan

ABSTRACT Accurate identification of fishing grounds is fundamental to sustainable fisheries management, particularly in commercial and data‐limited fisheries where conventional monitoring approaches are often inadequate. This study presents a data‐driven framework for identifying GPS‐derived fishing grounds by integrating high‐resolution vessel tracking data with environmental, biodiversity, bathymetric, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission analyses. The framework was applied to a fishery operating along the Jizan coast of the Red Sea, using GPS data collected from six fishing vessels over a 4‐month period (January–April 2025). Vessel trajectories were reconstructed to characterize fishing behavior, quantify trip metrics, and identify spatial fishing hotspots using kernel density estimation. Environmental variables, including sea surface temperature and chlorophyll‐a concentration, were incorporated to examine oceanographic associations on fishing activity, while spatial overlays with coral reefs, mangroves, and marine protected areas were used to assess spatial associations. In addition, vessel‐specific fuel consumption was estimated to quantify CO 2 and CO 2 ‐equivalent emissions associated with fishing operations. Results revealed spatially structured fishing activity, with concentrated nearshore GPS‐derived fishing grounds showing spatial co‐occurrence with specific environmental conditions and ecologically important habitats. Substantial variability in GHG emissions was observed among vessels, driven primarily by differences in distance traveled and trip duration. By linking fishing ground identification with environmental context and carbon emissions, this study demonstrates an integrated approach that provides spatially explicit information that may support fisheries planning and future ecosystem‐based management. The proposed framework offers a scalable and reproducible methodology for improving spatial planning, conservation, and sustainability in fisheries.