Swordfish monitoring by a GIS-based spatial and temporal distribution analysis on harpoon fishery data: A case of study in the central Mediterranean Sea

The application of GIS allowed a good visualisation of catch distribution patterns, underlining annual and monthly differences in resource availability to fishery. The analysis of GIS maps showed a change in swordfish behaviour, likely related to SST anomalies and, as a consequence, difference in catch and effort distribution patterns. These differences were more evident if fishes in pair were considered. GIS turned out an important and powerful tool to analyze fishing information; the production of georeferentiated maps helps scientist to an easier interpretation of data on large pelagic resources. The proposed GIS-based analysis can add new information on swordfish and help decision makers in the Mediterranean swordfish management.