ANALYSIS OF THE CURRENT STATE OF THE FISH FOOD SUPPLY IN THE CASPIAN SEA

Abstract

The article presents an analysis of the current state of the fish food supply in the coastal fishing areas of the Caspian Sea within the Mangystau region. The main attention is paid to the study of the taxonomic composition, abundance, and biomass of zooplankton and zoobenthos as key components of the trophic base of the ichthyofauna. The research was conducted in the summer of 2018 at six fishing sites. 24 taxa have been identified in the zooplankton, represented by rotifers, branchous and copepods, as well as larvae of marine invertebrates. Euryhaline copepods occupied a dominant position in terms of abundance and biomass. 10 taxa of benthic invertebrates were registered in the zoobenthos, among which crustaceans predominated, which are important forage for benthic fish. The data obtained indicate low forage productivity of zooplankton and increased productivity of zoobenthos, which determines the peculiarities of the formation of the fish food base in the studied area of the Caspian Sea.