catch per unit area (cpua) estimation and distribution pattern of grunts in the oman sea

It is reported on the results of a trawls survey to assess the amount of catch per unit of area (cpua) and also to determine the distribution pattern of grunts of demersal fishes as one the most critical and commercial fish species in the north of oman sea. the catch per unit area cpua as the main index was estimated. a cpua and distribution change of this group was undertaken from 2003 to 2013. there was an annual monitoring survey during the years 2003-2013 by swept- area of the trawling area in the oman sea using r/v ʻferdows-1ʼcovering into five strata (or sub-region) and four depth layers of 10-20, 20-30, 30-50, and 50-100 meters in the northern oman sea. the results showed that central and eastern regions could be considered as main fishing grounds of this group of fishes with high abundance. however, the highest mean cpua belongs to strata c & e (420.7 and 306.1 kg/nm2) and b (266.1 kg/nm^2) as the primary fishing grounds comparing to the other two covering strata a & d, respectively. the results of depth layers density revealed the highest frequency was for the depths < 30 m (475.3 kg/nm2). as well as, cpua had a descending trend by increasing the depth. the highest and lowest value belonged to the depths 20-30 and 50–100 m, respectively. grunts (haemulidae family) have economic importance in terms of the commercial catch in the oman sea. in the last decade, cpua of grunts shows a decreasing trend, which represents the significant decrease in fisheries resources.