Monitoring Chlorophyll-a Concentration Variation in Fish Ponds from 2013 to 2022 in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China

Abstract

Aquaculture plays a vital role in global food production, with fish pond water quality directly impacting aquatic product quality. The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) serves as a key producer of aquatic products in South China. Monitoring environmental changes in fish ponds serves as an indicator of their health. This study employed the extreme gradient boosting tree (BST) model of machine learning, utilizing Landsat imagery data, to assess Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration in GBA fish ponds from 2013 to 2022. The study also examined the corresponding spatiotemporal variations in Chl-a concentration. Key findings include: (1) clear seasonal fluctuations in Chl-a concentration, peaking in summer (56.7 μg·L−1) and reaching lows in winter (43.5 μg·L−1); (2) a slight overall increase in Chl-a concentration over the study period, notably in regions with rapid economic development, posing a heightened risk of eutrophication; (3) influence from both human activities and natural factors such as water cycle and climate, with water temperature notably impacting summer Chl-a levels; (4) elevated Chl-a levels in fish ponds compared to surrounding natural water bodies, primarily attributed to human activities, indicating an urgent need to revise breeding practices and address eutrophication. These findings offer a quantitative assessment of fish pond water quality and contribute to sustainable aquaculture management in the GBA.