Comparison of AVHRR and SeaWiFS imagery with fishing activity and <i>in situ</i> data in San Matías Gulf, Argentina

Abstract

Seven years (January 2000 to December 2006) of AVHRR and SeaWiFS data were used to estimate monthly climatological means and to present SST and chlorophyll-a seasonal evolution in San Matías Gulf, located between 40° 47′ S and 42° 13′ S on the Argentine coast. SST and chlorophyll-a satellite maps corresponding to spring–summer showed two well differentiable sectors: the southern zone presented colder waters and higher chlorophyll-a concentration while the northern one showed warm water and lower chlorophyll-a. Hake (Merluccius hubbsi) is the most important resource in terms of landings and economic revenues of the San Matías Gulf. Fishing activity data gathered by a Vessel Monitoring System (2004–2006) were linked with SST and chlorophyll-a maps showing that the fishing vessels operated on the thermal front from November to March and had the maximum hake yields. In addition, AVHRR-SST and SeaWiFS-chlorophyll-a data were compared with temperature and chlorophyll-a measured in oceanographic surveys carried out in 2007.