COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FISHING AREAS BASED ON POTENTIAL FISHING ZONE ADVISORIES ALONG THE MUMBAI COAST, MAHARASHTRA

Abstract

Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisories are regularly disseminated by the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad to indicate the availability of fish to fishermen of the coastal states of India. The prediction of PFZ using near-real time satellite products not only helps the fishermen to reduce searching time and fuel consumption but also in the management of resources. The study was conducted along the Mumbai coast. Maharashtra to validate the PFZ derived from satellite data. Experimental fishing was carried out using ICAR-CIFE vessel. M. EV Narmada Biological, oceanographic and environmental data from both PFZ and non-PFZ was analysed. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) in PFZ and non-PFZ areas was 29kg h^-1 and 25.1kg h^-1 respectively. Species composition and quantum of species available at different depth varied despite lack of significant difference between the catch from both zones, Water quality parameters were analysed as per the standard procedures. The results obtained showed significant difference for the Total Suspended Matter (TSM) and salinity in both the zones. Results proved that the predicted PFZ areas were productive enough to yield a significant catch.