Demersal Fisheries of India

Vivekanandan, E (2011) Demersal Fisheries of India. In: Handbook of Fisheries and Aquaculture. Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Kochi, pp. 90-105.

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Abstract

Demersal finfishes are one of the major components in the marine fi sh landings along the Indian coast. Demersal fish groups such as the sharks. groupers. snappers. threadfins, porn frets and Indian halibut are commercially valuable and contribute substantially to the economy of Indian marine fi sheries. Some of these groups, especially of large-size, are targeted by the fishermen by using different craft and gear combinations. However, several other demersal finfishes are not targeted, but are landed as bycatch by shrimp trawlers. Compared with the pelagics, the demersal finfishes are less affected by the changes in the environment. such as changes in temperature, speed and direction of currents. Hence, the biological characteristics of the demersals are relatively stable. Consequent upon the increase in the number and efficiency of trawlers, the demersal landings have increased in the last 40 years. However, indiscriminate trawling in the last one decade has affected the bottom habitat and the demersal resources as well. ow there are evidences of decline in the stocks of few demersal groups and shift in the composition of the landings.

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