Primary productivity in nearshore waters of Thal, Maharashtra coast

Abstract

Primary productivity off Thal, Maharashtra, India was evaluated at 3 stations during Feb. 1980 to Jan. 1981. The area was quite turbid and the euphotic zone never exceeded 2.5 m. Column production ranged from 0.69 to 605.21 mg C.m/2.d/2 (av. 78.2 mgC.m/2.d/1). Rate of production at all stations was maximum in August. Chl a maxima were spread over the July/August period. Correlation between nutrients and production was very low suggesting that instantaneous concentration of nutrients was insignificant. The estimated annual primary production potential of the study area (38.72 km super(2)) was 1105 t C