Continuous Underway Fish Egg Sampler (CUFES); a Prospective Sampling Strategy for Assessing the Fish Egg Distribution and Abundance in the Northern Indian Ocean

Marine fishery has a central role in the economic growth of our country and livelihood for the coastal population and evaluation of fish egg abundance is important for the sustainable fisheries. The estimation of fish egg abundance is mainly carried out by sampling in discrete locations using plankton nets which is labor intensive. Hence, the continuous underway fish egg sampler (CUFES), an instrument specifically designed to sample fish eggs was operated for the first time in the northern Indian Ocean. Operation of CUFES was successful in providing a detailed distribution and abundance of fish eggs from a broader region along the ship-track. The distinct hydrographical characteristics and the concurrent variability in the phytoplankton standing stock of the Arabian Sea resulted in the evident spatial disparity in the distribution and abundance of fish eggs. The broader area coverage, reliable data sets and ease in operation makes CUFES a potential sampling method in providing accurate information on the fish egg distribution in Indian waters.