Search

Spatial conservation planning to reduce the impact of fishing on ecosystems necessitates understanding of the spatial distribution of bycatch in fishing grounds. Management measures in Indian waters cannot be spatially explicit without this information. Thus, a preliminary study was conducted on the northwest coast of India to identify the most persistent bycatch areas from mid-water trawlers targeting largehead hairtails (Trichiurus lepturus). Semi-variogram modelling and kriging interpolation showed that bycatch abundance varied by species and associated habitat or depth preference. A significant positive correlation between species in bycatch abundance revealed that few share the same habitat in the region. Bycatch species were concentrated in the inshore area (<70 m depth) during the post-monsoon and summer seasons, but their densities reduced in the winter. The bycatch distribution map aid in the future implementation of spatial management measures, such as the designation of the no-fishing zone and conservation networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study attempts to understand the seasonal and spatial variations in the physico-chemical (temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and nutrients) and productivity characteristics of the northern Arabian Sea off the Indian coast. Samples were collected from four different sites off the Veraval coast. The values of the physical and chemical variables were higher during the summer season, whereas nutrient concentrations were high during the winter season due to the maturity of intake nutrients during post-monsoon and winter convective mixing during the northeast monsoon. The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration was strongly and positively correlated with the net primary productivity (NPP) and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) content to support productivity along the region. Dissimilarity in study variables was observed between the inshore and offshore locations. Principal component analysis revealed a strong relationship between nutrients and productivity variables (Chl-a and NPP). Nutrient levels were high at inshore sites, which can be attributed to the heavy nutrient load from land-based anthropogenic activities and impact due to natural processes like water mixing, sedimentation, and wave activities. Nutrients were strongly and positively correlated with the productivity variables, i.e., Chl-a and NPP. Chl-a positively correlated with NPP (r = 0.90), which indicates that it is a principle productivity pigment in the marine ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]