CMFRI efforts boost clam-fishery and livelihood options of Kerala fishermen

-

CMFRI efforts boost clam-fishery and livelihood options of Kerala fishermen

Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute’s efforts to rejuvenate clam-fishery in Vembanad Lake yield good results

An effort aimed at providing a boost to clam-fishery and thereby enhancing the livelihood options of clam-fishers living around the vast Vembanad Lake in Kollam district of Kerala is reaping success.

Led by the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), efforts were on to rejuvenate the black clam (Villorita cyprinoides) resource in the Vembanad Lake has yielded results with fishermen starting to harvest good catch from the region.

CMFRI’s initiative of relaying baby clams in various sites in Vembanad facilitated increasing the clam production, which in turn helped fishers harvest around 10 tonnes of clam per day from two areas of the lake.

Kerala clam-fishery rejuvenation gets CMFRI technical guidance

The Molluscan Fisheries Division of CMFRI re-laid baby clams after identifying suitable areas on the northern side of the Thanneermukkom barrage. The initiative, which was rolled out as part of a ‘clam rejuvenation’ project taken up by the Fisheries Department of Kerala using the District Panchayat Scheme, saw close to 200 tonnes of baby black clams being re-laid in Keecheri and Chakkathukadu areas of the Vembanad Lake. The project was undertaken under the technical guidance of CMFRI.

Elaborating on the project, scientists at CMFRI said that the initiative is expected to yield a production of close to 1500 tonnes from these sites. The number is, in fact, more than seven-fold of the re-laid baby clams.

The long undisturbed period of nearly two years has facilitated at least two spawnings followed by spat settlement, leading to the establishment of a new black clam bed in the Lake and thus enhancing the clam resource, added Dr. P Laxmilatha, Head of Molluscan Fisheries Division (MFD), CMFRI.

Clam-fisheryClam-fishery picks up at the Vembanad Lake in Kollam district of Kerala

According to her, relaying of baby clams led to the establishment of the resource in these areas spreading around 20 hectares and helped fishers harvest adult clams with good growth rate.

“The production of black clams declined from a peak of 75,592 tonnes in 2006 to 42036 tonnes in 2019 in Vembanad Lake. Low production owing to multiple reasons and the pandemic have had cascading effect on clam fishers along Vembanad Lake,” Dr Laxmilatha pointed out.

Each canoe collects 450 kg of clams per day

Fishermen under the Keecheri Ulnadan Matsya Thozhilali Sahakarana Sangham collect the clams using canoes from re-laid locations and sell clam meat for 150 per kg in the nearest market. Each canoe collects 450 kg of clams per day.  

According to Dr Vidya R, scientist at MFD, CMFRI, who led the project, apart from increasing the production of clams in the area, the relaying has helped clam fishers to sustain their livelihood during the tough pandemic period.

She pointed out that nearly 5000 fishermen are involved in black clam fishery in the Vembanad Lake. The clam rejuvenation programme has greatly helped in increasing the production in the backwaters, thus providing a lifeline to the fishers depending on clam resources in the area, Dr Vidya added.





https://www.digpu.com/?p=125409

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lathi Charge: A legalised method of police brutality

-
Image
"Every blow on our bodies this afternoon is like a nail driven into the coffin of British imperialism." These were the precise words of Sher-e-Punjab Lala Lajpat Rai when he got brutally " lathi-charged " by the law enforcers of Colonial India while he was protesting against the Simon Commission in October 1928.  Punjab Kesari Lajpat Rai eventually succumbed to his injuries, and his death gave off the spark for vengeance in the heart of numerous Indian revolutionaries. In December 1928, Shahid-e-Azam Bhagat Singh and his compatriot Shivam Rajguru assassinated the Lahore Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) John Saunders to avenge the murder of their mentor. "Lathi-Charge" has remained one of the most brutal and sensitive issues for Indians since the bygone days of the Indian National Movement. Thus, even after 75 years of liberation, India and her children continue to writhe under pain brought on by police brutality and paranoia. Both the Indian Penal...
Read more

Recruitment Scams and Paper Leaks in India: How the deserving youth of India is getting smothered under an obsolete system

-
Image
" India is an over populous country. " This statement is hardly news to anyone, but very few of us know that the average age of an Indian is just 29 years old. Hence, India is a fairly young country with a strong demographic dividend. However, the ambitions and dreams of millions of Indians lie stranded despite their ability and competence. Each new year brings fresh new hopes for millions of aspirants. These young people have expressed their strong will by deciding to dedicate the prime of their youth to preparing for numerous government examinations. In a country where social class divisions continue to be a notable phenomenon in determining one's future, Government jobs and recruitments offer the only genuine means for attaining an egalitarian society. Today, even this little scope for upliftment gets marred under the evils of Paper leaks and Recruitment scams. The problem of the youth, in essence, is the problem of the nation, and it is high time we illustrated the gr...
Read more

Supreme Court renders Modi-backed ED Chief's extension “illegal.” Amit Shah and the opposition enter into a war of words

-
Image
On July 11th, the Honourable Supreme Court went against the Modi Government's decision by annulling Enforcement Directorate Chief Sanjay Mishra's extension. The Supreme Court bench rendered Sanjay Mishra's tenure extension illegal because it went against their previous verdict. Sanjay Kumar Mishra's successive extensions got brought to the Court's attention through petitions moved by opposition leaders like Randeep Singh Surjewala, Jaya Thakur, Mahua Moitra, and others. The Supreme Court Bench headed by Justice B. R. Gavai held that Mishra could hold on to his office up to July 31st at most, during which the Modi Government must ensure a “smooth transition in the larger public interest."  The previous judgments by the Supreme Court on the matter Back in 2021, the Modi Government had, via the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) Act and the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, made amendments to the necessary laws to safeguard the extension of the tenure...
Read more