Validation of Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) forecasts from Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Abstract

The annual exploitable fisheries of Andaman and Nicobar Islands are estimated to be 1.48 lakh t of which a meagre 22% is harvested currently. Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) forecasts based on remotelysensed chlorophyll concentration and sea surface temperature were applied for harvesting the unexploited marine fishery resources. Simultaneous validation experiments (n = 87) synchronizing with PFZ forecasts within (PFZs) and outside (non-PFZs) the demarcated zones employing different vessel categories viz., gillnetters (n = 50), trawlers (n = 22) and longliners (n = 15) were carried out. Significant disparity in fish catch was observed within and outside PFZs. Fish catch from gillnetters composed of carangids, clupeids, scombrids with Megalaspis cordyla being dominant at PFZ. Carangids, sphyraenids, serranids, lutjanids, lethrinids and carcharhinids were reported from trawlers with significantly higher CPUE from PFZs except nemipterids. Fish catch from longliners constituted mainly of carcharhinids and serranids, where the catch of former was found to be significantly higher at PFZs.