Assessing Potential for Aquaculture Development with a Geographic Information System

Comprehensive analyses of aquaculture potential are required for policy formulation and planning for aquaculture development. A computer-automated geographical information system (CIS) was assessed as a tool to analyze the complex spatial and attribute data sets needed to locate aquaculture potential. The state of Louisiana, USA, was the study area. Areas for the further development of catfish and crawfish culture and crawfish-rice and crawfish-grain sorghum double cropping were identified. The CIS showed that there were ample opportunities for the expansion of catfish farming on flatlands based on soil suitability and length of the growing season. Parishes in which crawfish are already raised occupy most of the best suited soils and include those with the longest growing seasons. The potential to further integrate crawfish with rice and with grain sorghum in double cropping systems was good. The results demonstrated that a GIS can be used to aid large-area aquacultural development planning.