We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A review of remote sensing in coastal aquaculture: data, geographic hotspots, methods, and challenges
Summary
A review of remote sensing applications in coastal aquaculture examined available data sources, geographic coverage, and analytical methods for monitoring aquaculture zones. This is relevant to microplastic research because aquaculture operations are both exposed to and potential sources of microplastic contamination in coastal waters.
Coastal aquaculture, involving the cultivation of aquatic organisms in near-coastal land-based ponds and marine-based suspended cages and floating rafts, is essential for meeting global fish demand. Yet, its rapid expansion, particularly in Asia, has raised concerns about seawater eutrophication, biodiversity loss, and food safety. Remote sensing has emerged as a critical tool for monitoring coastal aquaculture by scalable data collection, long-term monitoring, and access to remote marine areas. This study presents the first comprehensive review that integrates bibliometric and content analysis of 304 papers on remote sensing in coastal aquaculture (RSCA) published between 2000 and early 2024. It identifies three major research themes: aquaculture mapping (35.6%), land and sea use change detection (27.6%), and eco-environmental assessment (14.2%), with a notable growth in publications since 2014. Medium-resolution optical satellites (e.g. Landsat series and Sentinel-2) dominate coastal aquaculture studies in all themes. Geographically, RSCA studies are highly concentrated in Southeast Asia, particularly along China's coastline and the Mediterranean, with most conducted at small scales. In coastal aquaculture mapping, deep learning methods (43.5%) show strong potential for detecting complex features like raft boundaries, while traditional machine learning remains effective for large-scale, high-contrast aquaculture. For eco-environmental studies, spectral indicators derived from remote sensing effectively support indirect monitoring of land–sea transformation (e.g. mangrove degradation and coastline expansion), seawater quality degradation (e.g. eutrophication, algal blooms, and heavy metals), and biodiversity threats (e.g. habitat loss and microplastics). Key challenges include the lack of high-resolution open datasets, difficulties in summarizing the spectral characteristics of coastal aquaculture targets, accurate global aquaculture mapping, and the absence of an integrated environmental monitoring framework. Addressing these gaps is essential for advancing sustainable management and supporting global food security and eco-environmental goals.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
A review of remote sensing in coastal aquaculture: data, geographic hotspots, methods, and challenges
This review examines remote sensing applications in coastal aquaculture, synthesising data sources, geographic hotspots, and methodological advances that allow satellite and aerial imagery to monitor aquaculture facility extent, water quality, and environmental impacts including plastic debris from aquaculture infrastructure.
A review of remote sensing in coastal aquaculture: data, geographic hotspots, methods, and challenges
This review synthesises remote sensing methods for monitoring coastal aquaculture, covering satellite and aerial data sources, identifying geographic hotspots of aquaculture expansion, and evaluating current and emerging techniques for assessing environmental impacts such as plastic debris from nets, cages, and buoys.
Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Aquaculture Environment
This review covers high-efficiency analytical methods for identifying and quantifying microplastics in aquaculture environments, addressing the growing concern that plastic products widely used in aquaculture operations are an underreported source of microplastic contamination.
A Global Review of Progress in Remote Sensing and Monitoring of Marine Pollution
This review examines how remote sensing technology, including satellites and drones, is being used to monitor marine pollution such as oil spills, floating debris, and microplastics. While the technology works well for detecting large-scale pollution, methods for tracking microplastics in the ocean are still in early development. Better monitoring tools are needed to understand the full scope of marine microplastic pollution, which ultimately affects seafood safety and human health.
Monitoring and Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Coastal Zones: Sampling Methods and Spatial Distribution Characteristics
This review examines sampling methods and spatial distribution characteristics of microplastic pollution in coastal zones, synthesizing approaches for monitoring these key environmental interfaces. Researchers found that coastal zones serve as major sinks and dispersal areas for microplastics, with sampling methodology significantly influencing reported concentrations and distribution patterns.