Zooplankton standing stock assessment and fishery resources in the indian seas

Abstract

Based on data from 1864 samples collected over a period of 12 years (1976-88), an assessment of zooplankton standing stock (biomass), secondary production and potential fishery resources has been made. The areas studied included Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, Lakshadweep (Laccadive) Sea and Andaman Sea. The zooplankton biomass values fluctuated between 0.1 to 12 ml m sup(-3) (av. = 0.664 plus or minus 1.36 ml m sup(-3)), 0.1 to 8.0 ml m sup(-3) (av. = 0.355 plus or minus 0.761 ml m sup(-3)), 0.1 to 1.6 ml m sup(-3) (av. = 0.156 plus or minus 0.218 ml m sup(-3)) and 0.02 to 0.37 ml m sup(-3) (av. = 0.12 plus or minus 0.079 ml m sup(-3)) respectively. The general pattern of zooplankton distribution showed an increasing trend towards north and eastwards in the Arabian Sea. This trend was reversed in the Bay of Bengal. Based on standing stock, the sustainable fish yield for the studied area worked out to be 8.62 million tonnes per year