GIS-based multi-criteria decision making system for determining potential site of oyster aquaculture in Terengganu

Aquaculture has been developed rapidly over the last two decades and had become an important economy for Malaysia. The amount of local oyster has become less due to flood, oil leaks, and disease factors and reduced water quality. The current conventional method used Department of Fisheries (DOF), Marang in monitoring water quality criteria such as salinity, water depth, and water movement is not only time consuming but also costly and not practical at large area. Therefore, this study investigates the potential of GIS-based multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) in selecting the suitable and new area for oyster aquaculture. It contains a set of evaluation criteria which are quantifiable indicators of the extent to which decision objectives are realized. The selected criteria are ammoniacal nitrogen, water depth, water pH, level dissolved oxygen, salinity, temperature and water movement. The result showed the spatial characteristic potential area of oyster aquaculture breeding are good water pH (7–8), water depth (3–4m), level dissolved oxygen (4–5 p.p.m) and good salinity (20–30 p.p.t) on mussel existing aquaculture site. Therefore, the classification of geographical information system (GIS) and multi — criteria decision making (MCDM) analysis could be used by Local Department of Fisheries (DOF) to find systematically new sites for oyster aquaculture. The suitable spatial area could be improved by using advanced techniques and other data parameters such as constraints, stream and social economic to get more significant results of oyster aquaculture breeding in the study area.