Analysis of SST and Chl-a data from MODIS-Aqua in the Major Egyptian Fishing Zones of the Red Sea

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess long-term trends in Chl-a and SST in major fishing zones associated with fish production over an 18-year period (2002–2019) in the Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aqaba, and the Red Sea proper. The study found that seasonal SST mean values ​​differed significantly (P < 0.01) when compared across seasons. Chl-a (mg/m³) exhibited variation between winter and summer (P = 0.01). Regarding regional variability, SST differed significantly between the three regions (P ≤ 0.01), while Chl-a showed no significant difference between the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea, otherwise, chlorophyll exhibited significant variation between the gulfs of Suez and Aqaba (P < 0.01) and the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea (P < 0.01). The current study found that the total catch varied seasonally in the studied regions from 2010 to 2015. Seasonal (2010–2015) and annual (2002–2019) time series analyses of fish production variance indicated significant zonal production trends. On the other hand, annual trends showed a gradual decline in the total catch from 2002 to 2015, followed by an increased trend until 2019.