Zooplankton biomass and potential fishery resources of the EEZ of India

Abstract

An assessment of zooplankton biomass, secondary production and potential fishery resources of the EEZ of India was made from the data collected during a period of 15 years from 1976 to 1991. The areas studied included the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Lakshadweep (Laccadive) and Andaman and Nicobar seas. Zooplankton biomass values ranged from 0.02 to 20.0 ml m sup(-3) (av. = 0.82 ml m sup(-3)); 0.01 to 5.3 ml m sup(-3) (av. = 0.22 ml m sup(-3)); 0.01 to 1.6 ml m sup(-3) (av. = 0.82 ml m sup(-3) and 0.2 to 0.84 ml m sup(-3) (av. = 0.22 ml m sup-3)). Respectively. The shelf areas sustained higher zooplankton production (av. = 0.62 ml m sup(-3)) as compared to the oceanic waters (av. = 0.41 ml m sup(-3)). Biomass values were higher over the shelf region during the south-west monsoon; in the oceanic realm, these were high during the pre-monsoon season. Average values obtained for the three seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon) in the shelf and oceanic waters were 0.33, 1.06 and 0.46 ml m sup(-3) and 0.48, 0.40 and 0.36 ml m sup(-3) respectively. Diel variability was discernible, the night biomass values were higher than the day values. Based on the biomass data, secondary production and potential fish yield worked out to 0.01 million tones per year and 2.25 million tones per year respectively for the area studied.