GIS mapping of fishpond classification in Jordan, Guimaras

Abstract

In Guimaras, fishponds are essential to the local aquaculture sector, particularly in the Municipality of Jordan, the provincial capital. However, recent data highlights an erratic trend in aquaculture production over three consecutive years, with the lowest output recorded in 2020, reflecting a 10.50% decrease from the previous year. Despite advancements in remote sensing technologies like Geographic Information System (GIS), there is a notable absence of digitalized, open-access maps containing detailed fishpond information. This study aims to address this gap by integrating GIS technology and field surveys to generate a digitized map for fishponds of different classifications in the Municipality of Jordan, Guimaras. Field surveys were conducted in six of the 14 barangays, identifying eight active fishponds. Ocular visits and interviews were carried out using a profile data sheet to gather production data. Geographic coordinates were collected using the DA GeoCamera application and transferred to Google Earth Pro. These were then digitized using ArcGIS 10.8.1 software to create maps. Results showed that the majority of active fishponds are situated in Brgy. Sinapsapan (37.5%), while the other barangays contributed equally (12.5%). All fishponds were found to have concrete gates, with half utilizing a modified intensive culture system and the other half an intensive culture system. Spatial analysis using the Average Nearest Neighbor (ANN) tool quantified spatial relationships and revealed that active fishponds in Jordan, Guimaras, are randomly distributed. This study provides a valuable resource for aquaculture planning and management, promoting the sustainable development of fishpond operations in Guimaras.