Catch, abundance and some aspects of biology of deep sea fish in the southeastern Arabian Sea

The bottom trawls operated by FORV Sagar Sampada in the southeastern Arabian Sea revealed the existence of grounds with potentially rich unexploited deep sea finfish resources. Chlorophthalmus sp. formed the most dominant species with catch rates of 4.6 tonne/hr at lat. 8°56' N long. 73° 35' E and 4.2 tonne/hr at lat. 8°55' N, long. 73°35'E. Cubiceps rmtalensis with catch rates of 2.8 t forms the next important species. Maximum catch rate of deep sea fish was observed at depths ranging from 300 to 350 m. The other major exploitable species include Neopinnula orientalis, Pseneopsis cyanea, Chascanopsetta lugubris, Priacanthus hamrur and Chlorophthalmus bicomis. Information on some aspects of biology of fishes landed in fairly good quantity are also dealt with. Concentrations of deep sea fish resources are found in comparatively shallower depths in the northern latitudes whereas a wider distribution is seen in the southern latitudes