Mapping intensity of fishing activities in mangrove habitats: prerequisite for vulnerability assessment process

In general, fishing activities are considered as one of the most important environmental disturbances in increasing the vulnerability of the mangrove ecosystems due to their destructive effects on the process of sedimentation and wave currents, decreasing biodiversity, and introducing oil pollutants into these ecosystems. Therefore, investigating and mapping the intensity of fishing activities in mangrove habitats are of great needs in conducting the vulnerability assessment and providing managerial solutions and empowerment of these ecosystems to minimize and compensate the damages caused by environmental hazards. The aim of this study was to investigate, determine, and delineate and the intensity of fishing activities in the mangrove habitats of the Hormozgan province. To this end, the map of intensity of fishing activities was prepared in Khamir, Qeshm, Tiab, Sirik and Jask habitats through mapping the mangrove habitats, drawing 598 cell networks of 4 × 4 km in the coastal waters and the available geospatial data, and number of vessels in the fishing ports of the Hormozgan province. The results showed that in terms of the geographic distribution and the number of vessels in the fishing ports of the Hormozgan province, the intensity of the fishing activities in the mangrove habitats is ranked as follows: Khamir habitat> Qeshm habitat> Tiab habitat> Jask habitat> Sirik habitat. The results of this study can be used as a prerequisite for assessing the vulnerability of the mangroves of Iran.