Productivity of the Indian Seas

Abstract

The productivity of the Indian Seas and adjacent ecosystems such as estuaries, mangrove swamps, coastal environment and also the upwelling areas have been discussed in the light of data collected over the years by different expeditions and also by the studies conducted intensively in localised regions. The general level of productivity shows much variation both in space and time. The estuarine areas and upwelling regions are found to have a higher production rate. There is also a seaward decrease in the production. The regionwise annual production for west and east coasts of India and the Indian Ocean in general have been quantitatively estimated from the carbon production tracing through the yield ratio based on the ratio obtainable in the intensively exploited waters. The possible exploitable yield from the Exclusive Economic Zone comprising an area of about 2 million sq. km has also been estimated both in terms of carbon production and potential resources. The productivity of special ecosystems such as mangrove swamps and coral reefs have also been discussed in general.