Harnessing GIS to map trawl fishing grounds and reduce carbon footprint along India’s west coast

Aim: This study examines the spatial and temporal dynamics of key commercial fish species along the west coast of India through GIS-based mapping, aiming to reduce the environmental footprint of trawl fisheries by optimizing fishing effort, minimizing scouting time, and lowering carbon emissions. Methodology: Data from customised logbooks for each fishing operation were geo-referenced using recorded latitude–longitude coordinates to delineate the spatial extent of fishing grounds. Spatial analysis and map generation were conducted using ArcGIS, while Visual Basic 6 was used for database management and query execution. The datasets were used to generate thematic layers, shapefiles, and feature classes for spatio-temporal analysis of fishing activities and species distribution. Results: Three commercially important species/groups—Trichiurus lepturus, Nemipterus spp. (N. japonicus and N. randalli), and Lagocephalus inermis—showed consistent occurrence within trawling grounds, with clear seasonal fluctuations in abundance. Peak abundances of Nemipterus spp. in January and October and Lagocephalus inermis in January and May, indicating persistent species–habitat associations across seasons. Interpretation: The findings of this study highlight the utility of participatory GIS-based mapping in identifying productive fishing grounds and supporting adaptive, season-specific fisheries management, and conservation planning. Practically, the spatial information generated can help fishers reduce scouting time, fuel consumption, and operational costs by targeting areas of consistent abundance, thereby also contributing to lower greenhouse gas emissions from trawling operations. Key words: Climate change, CO2 emission, Fisheries, Fishing grounds, Mitigation, Trawl