Pelagic Zone Background:
The open ocean, or pelagic zone, is the area of the ocean outside of coastal areas, and where you’ll find some of the biggest marine life species. The sea floor (demersal zone) is not included in the pelagic zone.
Different Zones in the Open Ocean:
The pelagic zone is separated into several subzones depending on water depth:
- Epipelagic zone (ocean surface to 200 meters deep)
- Mesopelagic zone (200-1,000m)
- Bathypelagic zone (1,000-4,000m)
- Abyssopelagic zone (4,000-6,000m)
- Hadopelagic zone (deep ocean trenches, greater than 6,000m).
Marine Life Found in the Pelagic Zone:
Typical life you’ll find in this zone includes wide-ranging animals such as cetaceans and large fish such as bluefin tuna. There are also invertebrates such as jellyfish. In the deeper areas of the pelagic zone, you’ll find giant squid, prime food for the deep-diving sperm whale.
