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Neritic Zone
Neritic Zone
The productive, sunlit waters above the continental shelf - hosting 90% of the worlds commercial fisheries and highest marine biodiversity outside coral reefs.
Depth: 0-200m Light: Sunlight Temp: 0-30
📖 Overview
The neritic zone extends from the low tide line to the edge of the continental shelf (about 200 m depth). Nutrient runoff from land plus deep-water upwelling makes it the most productive marine environment. Cod fisheries of the North Atlantic, anchovy fisheries off Peru, sardines off South Africa - all neritic. Understanding neritic ecology is understanding most of world fisheries.
🌡️ Physical Characteristics
Sunlit throughout. Nutrient-rich from land runoff and upwelling. Wave-influenced surface layers. Temperature seasonal.
🌿 Ecology
Phytoplankton blooms drive productivity. Zooplankton grazing supports schools of forage fish (anchovy, sardine, herring). Predators (tuna, cod, billfish) hunt these schools. Seabirds and marine mammals top predators.
⚠️ Threats
Overfishing, coastal eutrophication, plastic pollution, coastal development.