Demersal fish

Demersal fish live on or near the seabed, either resting on the bottom or swimming just above it. They differ from pelagic fish, which occupy the water column away from the seafloor.

Benthic zone: The ecological region at the bottom of a body of water, including its surface and subsurface. Demersal fish occupy the water immediately above or the surface of this region.
Bottom trawling: A fishing method that drags a net along the seabed to catch organisms near or on the bottom. It captures demersal fish by sweeping their habitat.
Demersal fishing: Fishing directed at species that live on or near the seabed. It targets the habitat-defined group of fish directly.
Flatfish: An order of fishes whose adults typically lie on one side and have both eyes on the other side of the head. Their flattened bodies and bottom-resting behavior are a distinctive demersal strategy.
Pelagic fish: Fish that live in the open water column rather than primarily on or near the seabed. Their open-water habitat contrasts with demersal fish’s association with the bottom.
Benthic-pelagic coupling: The exchange of matter and energy between seafloor ecosystems and the water column above. Demersal fish can transfer energy between bottom prey and predators higher in the water column.
Fisheries management: The regulation and stewardship of fisheries to balance harvest, ecosystem health, and long-term stocks. Managers set rules for demersal stocks vulnerable to concentrated seabed fishing.
Cod: A common name for several marine fishes, especially Atlantic cod and Pacific cod. Cod are familiar demersal fish that feed and live near the seabed.
Benthos: Organisms that live on, in, or near the bottom of aquatic environments. Many demersal fish feed on or interact with these seafloor organisms.
Camouflage: Adaptations that make an organism harder to detect against its surroundings. Seabed colors and patterns help some bottom-associated fish avoid predators or approach prey.

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