Inland Fisheries

5.4.2.2.1 Fish and Fishery

Penaeid prawns constitute a major fishery in Pulicat Lake. Since prawns are highly priced and exported, the whole fishing pressure is on prawns in this lake. There are 12 species of penaeid prawns which include F. indicus (white prawn), P. monodon (tiger prawn), P. semisulcatus (green prawn), P. canaliculatus (striped prawn), P. japonicus (kuruma prawn), P. latisulcatus, P. merguiensis (banana prawn), Metapenaeus monoceros (speckled prawn), M. dobsoni, M. affinis, M. brevicornis (yellow prawn) and M. burkenroadi. Of the two exportable prawn species, Penaeus indicus is plenty in this lake which serves as an ideal nursery for this species. However, P. monodon is declining in numbers. It has a rich diversity of 29 species of crabs from marine, brackishwater, freshwater and terrestrial. Of these, the crabs, Scylla serrata, S. tranquebarica and Portunus pelagicus are highly abundant occurring all over the lake throughout the year. Indeed, Pulicat Lake is the largest producer of mud crabs among the various brackishwater bodies in India. Usually, non-padu fishermen are engaged in crab fishing in this lake.

The edible oyster (Crassostrea madrasensis) which is a keystone species here, is the most extensively distributed bivalve in this lake. In addition to this oyster, mud clam, Meretrix casta and blood clam, Anadora granosa are also common in this lake. The pearl oyster, Pinctada vulgaris occurs sparingly. A total of 168 species of finfishes have been recorded from this lake which include 1 shark species, 3 ray species, 164 species of teleosts (15 - Clupeiformes, 9 - Cypriniformes, 4 - Anguilliformes, 5 - Beloniformes, 1 - Syngnathiformes, 3 - Cyprinodontiformes, 8 - Mugiliformes, 1 - Polynemiformes, 95 - Perciformes, 1 - Mastacembeliformes and 15 - Tetraodontiformes). In fact, Pulicat lake is ideally suited for this edible oyster. The Pulicat lake fishery mainly consists of mullets, perches, clupeids, catfishes, prawns and crabs. Prawns and crabs constitute more than 50% of the catch, mullets (18-22%), perches (7.5 – 13%) and clupeids (6-10%). Perches form the valuable component of the fishery due to good taste and flavour. Most common species of perches are Sillago sihama, Gerrus spp. Chrysophys spp. Lates calcarifer, Siganus spp., Etroplus spp., Therapon jarbua, Lutjanus spp. and Leiognathus spp. The southern sector of this lake is more productive than the northern part.