Inland Fisheries

2.1.6.1 Major estuaries of India

Estuaries present in India cover an area of 14.22 lakh hectare.

Estuarine system	Estimated area (ha)	Production (t)
Hoogly – Matlah	234000	20000-26000
Godavari Estuary	18000	5000
Mahanadi Estuary	3000	550
Narmada Estuary	30000	4000
Peninsular Estuarine system	---	2000
Chilka lake	103600	4000
Pulicat lake	3900	760-1370
Vembanad lake and Kerala back waters	50000	14000-17000
Wetlands of West Bengal	---	---
(a) Fresh water bheries	9600	10-14
(b) Saline bheries	33000	25500
Mangroves	356500	---

Source: Sinha, 1997