Evaluation of demersal trawl survey data for assessing the Biomass and Catch Per Unit Area (CPUA) of Platycephalidae

Biomass and Catch Per Unit of Area (CPUA) of Platycephalidae family were investigated in the northern coast of Oman Sea based on trawl survey results in 2015. The study area was stratified to five strata (I, II, III, IV, and V) covering the 10-20, 20-30, 30-50 and 50-100 m depth layers. Samples were collected at a total 65 trawl stations selected a stratified random procedure. The total CPUA and biomass of different species of Platycephalidae were estimated 268.9 kg/nm^2 and 124.8 tons and it made up 1.01% of total catch weight in five stratums. The highest values of CPUA (80.95 kg/nm^2), and biomass (43.47 tons) for Grammoplites suppositus were recorded in stratum IV in 30-50 m depth layer. The highest values of CPUA (15.61 kg/nm^2), and biomass (8.34 tons) for Platycephalus indicus were recorded in stratum IV in 10-20 m layer depth. The most obvious finding to emerge from this study is that strata IV (Northwest of Oman Sea) and 30-50 meter-depth layer is the best fishing area from the point of higher density and distribution of Platycephalidae in Oman Sea.