Google Earth spots fish farms from the air

Caroline Morley, online picture researcher

 

(Image: Google Earth)

An array of rings and squares bob gently in the blue Mediterranean waters of this sun-drenched Greek inlet. These fish enclosures, seen using Google Earth, show that aquaculture can be monitored from far above.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, used Google Earth to scour 91 per cent of the Mediterranean coastline. They counted a total of 21,324 fish cages within 10 kilometres of the shore. Using these figures, and assumptions about fish density and harvesting, the researchers estimated that 225,736 tonnes of fish were raised in these cages in 2006.

The lead producer of farmed fish was Greece. With over 10,000 cages, the country netted an estimated 103,800 tonnes of fish. 

http://www.newscientist.com/