Marine biologists find deep sea species form 95% of world`s fish biomass

Zee Media Bureau

Sydney: In a fresh finding, marine biologists have found that fish living in the mesopelagic zones form 95 per cent of the world`s fish biomass. The latest findings revealed that mesopelagic fish in the earth`s oceans constitute 10 to 30 times more biomass than previously thought. According to researchers, mesopelagic fish live between 100-1000 metres below the surface. The new study, which is published in the journal Nature Communications, estimates the population of mesopelagic fish to be around 10,000 million tons against 1000 million tons of the fish estimated earlier. “This very large stock of fish that we have just discovered that holds 95 per cent of all the fish biomass in the world is untouched by fishers,” said the researchers. Researchers said the secret behind their vast population is their capacity to avoid fish nets and prowling eyes of the birds. They have large eyes to see in the dim light, and also enhanced pressure-sensitivity. “They are able to detect nets from at least five metres and avoid them,” noted professor Carlos Duarte of University of Western Australia. Duarte and his team carried out a seven-month circumnavigation of the globe in the Spanish research vessel Hesperides collecting echo-soundings of mesopelagic fish to carry out the study. He said during the night, most mesopelagic species tend to feed near the surface and move to deeper layers in the daytime to avoid birds. Pic credit: CSIC With Agency Inputs