Oxygen minimum zone and fish landings along the omani shelf

Historical data on vertical distribution of temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen concentration, eco-soundings and artisanal fish landings were used, to investigate the relationship between characteristics of the oxygen minimum zone and fish landings along the Omani shelf (in the western Arabian Sea). It was shown that seasonal shoaling of the oxycline shifts the deepened layer of myctophids up to the surface and closer to the coast which in turn favors accumulation of pelagic predators in the same locality. Both phenomena lead to a compressing of the habitat and increasing artisanal landings. The factors mediating seasonal changes of the oxygen minimum zone are discussed here.