Using kriging and co-kriging to predict distributional areas of Kilka species (Clupeonella spp.) in the southern Caspian Sea

Understanding ecological and anthropogenic drivers of fish population dynamics and achieving a sustainable yield requires detailed studies on habitat selection and spatial distribution. The objective of this study was to predict spatial density and distribution of kilka species in the southern Caspian sea in relation to satellite-derived sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, turbidity and water depths using ordinary kriging and co-kriging geostatistical methods and introduction an appropriate potential fishing area according to the present fishing points. Three hundred and fifty fishing surveys were done in two main kilka fishing ports in the southern Caspian Sea (Anzali and Babolsar ports) from 2015 to 2016. The Geostatistical analysis showed that the co-kriging spatial interpolation method provided the best prediction of fish abundance when chlorophyll-a content was included in model.