Received: 25-05-2018 / Accepted: 11-12-2018
A survey was conducted to assess variation of marine fishery resources in the Gulf of Tonkin from 2000 to 2015. The swept area method for demersal and near demersal fish groups and hydroacoustics method for pelagic fish group were used. The survey data on fishery resources conducted annually in the Gulf of Tonkin during 2000-2015 period revealed about 568 marine fishery species/groups belonging to 321 genera, 145 families, including demersal fishes (197 species), pelagic fishes (70 species), crustaceans (47 species) and squids (30 species). In 2000-2005 period, the total standing biomass (TSB) was estimated at about 453,000 tones and the maximum sustainable fishing yield (MSY) about 225,000 tones. From 2010 to 2015, the TSB was estimated about 752,000 tones and 719,000 tones, respectively, for the NE and SW monsoon seasons, and the estimated MSY was about 350,000 tones. Noticeably, the pelagic fishes accounted for about 70-80% of the MSY values while the figure for the demersal fishes was only about 20% in both periods.