Taxonomy of Exploited Demersal Finfishes of India: Lizardfishes, Pigface breams, Eels, Guitar fishes and Pomfrets

Demersal fishes are those fishes which live and feed on or near the bottom of seas. They occupy the sea floors, which usually consist of mud, sand, gravel or rocks. In coastal waters they are found on or near the continental shelf, and in deep waters they are found on or near the continental slope or along the continental rise. In India, demersal finfishes contribute about 26% to the total marine fish landings of the country, which is dominated by perches, croakers, catfishes, silverbellies, elasmobranchs, lizardfishes, flat fishes, pomfrets, etc., in order of abundance. Most of the demersal finfishes in India are exploited by mechanised trawlers.