On the persistent occurrence of potential fishing zones in the southeastern Arabian Sea

Abstract

Potential Fishing Zone (PFZ) advisory maps released by the INCOIS (Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India) during 2003-07 were analyzed for their frequency of occurrence and persistence. This analyses clearly indicates that the nearshore regions of the Arabian Sea off Kerala with depths less than 50 m occurred more in the PFZ advisory maps than the mid continental shelf region and the continental slope. Northen regions of Kerala had persistent PFZ areas especially in the region between Calicut and Kannur. Relatively high river discharges in the area and presence of high nutrient content in the discharges because of high mangrove afforestation are likely causes for the persistent occurrence of PFZs in these regions.