5.4.2.2.4 Conservation and management

5.4.2.2.4 Conservation and management

Fish catch from Pulicat Lake is dependent on the ingress of fish and prawn seed from the sea. However, the sand bar formed at the mouth adversely affects recruitment. Further, in a nursery like Pulicat Lake, growing juveniles need to migrate but fishermen in the northern regions of the lake, lay fine meshed stake nets, right across the width of the lake, and retain such nets continuously for days together which result in the catch of prawns of all sizes, not allowing the juveniles to migrate and grow. In addition, coolant water from North Chennai Thermal Power Station, aqua farms, salt pans, growing fishermen population in this region, hand picking juvenile prawns by the tribal women and non-fishermen lured by the lucrative prawn export trade affect both the habitat and species diversity and abundance. This unethical and unscientific method of prawn fishing and anthopogenic activities that harm the lake fishery need to be monitored and controlled.

Last modified: Thursday, 17 November 2011, 11:07 AM