Physicochemical Characteristics Of Fishing Grounds Off Mangalore, West-Coast Of India

Abstract

In the regions off Mukka and Hosbettu, Karnataka coast, salinity attains maximum value of 35.1 x 10^-3 in May. Similarly silicate, nitrate and phosphate show high values (27, 0.12 and 1.32 µ<i>M</i> respectively) in May. This indicates upwelling of nutrient rich bottom waters. Changes in chl <i>a</i> and nitrate, phosphate and NO₃:PO₄ ratio suggest nitrate deficiency. Multiple correlation coefficient of temperature and salinity towards oil sardine landing is highly significant (<i>r</i> = 0.9917; <i>P</i> < 0.01). This suggests that fish landing in Karnataka coast is highly influenced by physical parameters like temperature, salinity and DO and maximum landing from September to November follows the peak in chl <i>a</i> content.