Small pelagics are diverse group of planktivorous fishes, attain maximum length of less than 35 centimeters and maximum weight of less than 500 grams and inhabit usually above the continental shelf, about 119 species of small pelagics belonging to 8 families and 32 genra have been reported from Indian waters, off which around 50 species supports major fisheries. Small pelagics, with an annual average of 7.33 lakh tonnes formed 50.9% of the total pelagic catches and 26.9% of the total marine catch of India during 1991 to 2012. Average annual small pelagic fish production increased from 4.74...

Marine ecosystems are complex habitats ranges from highly productive near-shore coastal habitats to the deep sea floor inhabited only by specialized organisms. They are important to humankind both ecologically and economically. Unfortunately, human activities are putting marine ecosystems under pressure across world. Worldwide deterioration of marine biodiversity call for Conservation Strategy to conserve the biodiversity which supports the sound structure and function of marine ecosystems to utilize ecological services of the ocean in a sustainable manner. A theme of this teaching manual is...