Potential exploitable micronektons from the Deep Scattering Layers(DSL) of the Indian EEZ

Abstract

The benthic realm of the inner shelf was also swept incessantly and trampled by bottom trawlers leading to habitat degradation, destruction with an ultimate impact on the food web, by-catch and other commercially important species through recruitment/growth overfishing.The present DSL investigation chiefly aims to measure the micronekton, their behaviour, migration, biology and predator - prey interactions in space and time. Many earlier surveys by government agencies such as FAO/UNDP, FSI, DOD in the EEZ by using demersal trawl / midwater trawl revealed the existence of rich grounds of a few unfamiliar demersal fishes like bull�s eye, green eye, black ruff, drift fish in the outer shelf and slope upto 500m depth.In view of the importance, vastness and magnitude of living resource potential, as verified from global research results, the deep scattering layer of Indian EEZ was subjected to preliminary survey and investigation on the biomass and bio composition during 1985-86 on board Department of Ocean Development�s vessel FORV Sagar Sampada.