Systematic investigations of biological resources of the Indian Ocean deep seas by YugNIRO started in the mid-1970s prompted by the introduction of the 200 mile exclusive economic zones by many Indian Ocean countries. Such studies started of the deepwater slopes and ridges of the Arabian Sea. Research cruises then moved south toward the Southern Indian Ocean and Antarctic while YugNIRO fisheries research in the Antarctic were started in the 1967. The first fisheries research trawling was undertaken by vessels moving through that area to and from the Antarctic. Directed research of the Southern Indian Ocean was started by YugNIRO and PPP Yugrybpoisk[6] in 1978[7] and in the following years these cruises became a regular research activity. The main objective was to determine the potential of the fishery resources.
From 1972 to 2000, a period of about 30 years YugNIRO and Yugrybpoisk undertook more than 80 research expeditions. In the course of these expeditions more than 8 000 trawl stations were undertaken hauls ranging from the surface to the depths of around 2 000 m, mainly by midwater trawls in near-bottom layers. In some expeditions bottom trawls, mechanical lines and pelagic and bottom long-lines were also used. A comprehensive list of research and scouting vessels that fished in that area, including incidental fishing operations by vessels passing through the area) and details of the fishing operations are presented in Table 3.1 (Appendix II).
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[6] Former Department of
Searching and Scientific Research Fleet of the Southern Basin
(Yugrybpromrazvedka) (till 1989). Starting from 1993 operated as fishing
company. [7] Research cruise operated at Walters shoals during 1973 mentioned by Collette and Parin (1991) was not identified during preparation of this review. |
