Inland Fisheries

1.1.3.3. Fish biodiversity in brackishwater

The brackishwater i.e., estuarine regions are considered as transition zone between freshwater of the rivers and saline water of seas. The salinity of brackishwater ranges from 0.5 ppt to 30 ppt. The major estuarine systems of India are Hooghly-Matlah estuary, Mahanadi estuary, Godavari estuary, Krishna estuary, Cauvery estuary and other estuaries of east and west coasts, Chilka Lake, Pulicat Lake and Kerala backwaters. The important species contributing significantly to the brackishwater fisheries are Mugil cephalus, Liza macrolepis, L. tade, L. parsia, Rhinomugil corsula, Hilsa ilisha (Tenualosa ilisha), Chanos chanos, Etroplus suratensis and Lates calcarifer. The brackishwater also harbour lucrative shellfish species like Penaeus monodon, Fenerropenaeus indicus, Metapenaeus monoceros, M. dobsoni, M. affinis and M. brevicornis.