Some aspects of productivity and fisheries of the West Coast of India

Abstract

The transformation of solar energy into potential food energy by photosynthesis is the most important single factor governing the productivity of any region in the sea. This food energy is transferred through a series of consumers and ultimately is made available as fish. In the operation of this system four steps can be recognised: ie , reception of light energy, production of organic material by phytoplankton utilising inorganic nutrients, consumption of organic material by consumers and decomposition of the organic material to inorganic nutrients.